What are the best computer algebra systems?

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101

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Feb 7, 2020

Last
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8 Options Considered

Best computer algebra systems	Price	Supported platforms	Last Updated
-- Maxima	-	-	Jan 24, 2020
-- SageMath	-	-	Sep 16, 2019
-- Maple	-	Linux, macOS, Windows	Feb 7, 2020
-- SymPy	-	-	Jul 21, 2019
-- Wolfram Mathematica	-	-	Dec 16, 2019

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score 28 · Answer 1

Maxima

Top Pro

Very good open source sorftware for general mathematical work with a nice frontend (wxmaxima)

ExceptionalJurate's Experience

It is a very powerful software. I use from simple calculus to very non-trivial computations in theoretical particle physics. See More

Top Pro

Cross platform

While the desktop experience is good, it runs pretty well on Android phones too. See More

UpbeatHidimba's Experience

Very good for general work. I use it for doing physics at all level: from undergrad problems in mechanics and electromagnetism to professional work in particle physics and gravitation See More

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score 20 · Answer 2

SageMath

Top Pro

Free open-source software. Compares favorably to Mathematica. INCLUDES Maxima in distro. Web-based CoCalc is excellent app based on Sagemath.

Jupyter Notebook supports Sagemath Kernel. See More

Top Con

Bloated

SageMath does not do much mathematics by itself. Instead, it depends on many CAS and non-CAS software packages, which it calls based on the desired operations. Installing SageMath pulls in all those packages as mandatory prerequisites. There is no lightweight GUI either. See More

Top Pro

Versatile

Though SageMath depends on other software packages for the heavy lifting, SageMath offers a centralized interface for working with many subfields of mathematics. See More

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score 6 · Answer 3

Maple

Top Con

This is proprietary software an it is expensive

Top Pro

Object-oriented features

Modules act like classes, can have methods & properties. Can create whole hierarchies. See More

Specs

Supported platforms:Linux, macOS, Windows

Top Pro

Powerful symbolic and numeric capabilities

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score 5 · Answer 4

SymPy

Top Pro

Lightweight

Needs only Python and mpmath library. See More

Top Con

Python interface is clunky

If you're using CAS within another program, it's great that SymPy is written in Python. But most of the time you're just trying to do some math, and having to declare all your variables and write equations in obscure ways so they fit Python syntax can be annoying. See More

score 11 · Answer 5

Wolfram Mathematica

Top Con

Proprietary

Top Pro

Very mature

Wolfram Mathematica has been around for a long time without any major changes in the basic design. See More

Top Pro

Lots of functionality

Top Pro

Coherent API over different domains

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score 3 · Answer 6

MathStudio

Top Pro

Excellent stand-alone CAS.

Developer Chris Desalvo is constantly improving program. He also answers questions directly, unusual in a world where developers hide. See More

score 2 · Answer 7

PTC Mathcad

Top Pro

Engineering community use

Top Con

Windows only

score 1 · Answer 8

Magma

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8 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Maxima

My Recommendation for Maxima

Very good open source sorftware for general mathematical work with a nice frontend (wxmaxima)

Cross platform

My Recommendation for SageMath

My Recommendation for SageMath

Free open-source software. Compares favorably to Mathematica. INCLUDES Maxima in distro. Web-based CoCalc is excellent app based on Sagemath.

Bloated

Versatile

My Recommendation for Maple

My Recommendation for Maple

This is proprietary software an it is expensive

Object-oriented features

Powerful symbolic and numeric capabilities

My Recommendation for SymPy

My Recommendation for SymPy

Lightweight

Python interface is clunky

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

Proprietary

Very mature

Lots of functionality

Coherent API over different domains

My Recommendation for MathStudio

My Recommendation for MathStudio

Excellent stand-alone CAS.

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

Engineering community use

Windows only

My Recommendation for Magma

My Recommendation for Magma

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My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for SciPy

My Recommendation for SciPy

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