Maxima, a powerful computer algebra system (CAS), is now accessible directly in web browsers thanks to a project leveraging Embedded Common Lisp (ECL) compiled to WebAssembly (WasM). This allows users to perform complex symbolic computations, including algebra, calculus, and numerical analysis, without any local installation. The browser-based interface provides a REPL (read-eval-print loop) for interactive calculations and utilizes MathJax for displaying formatted mathematical expressions. This project makes Maxima's capabilities more readily available, eliminating the need for dedicated software or server-side setups.
This blog post details the exciting development of a project bringing the powerful computer algebra system (CAS) Maxima to web browsers via WebAssembly (WASM). This allows users to leverage Maxima's extensive mathematical capabilities directly within their browser, eliminating the need for local installations or server-side deployments. The author meticulously describes the technical journey and the hurdles overcome in achieving this feat.
The core of the project revolves around compiling a specific version of ECL (Embeddable Common Lisp), a Common Lisp implementation designed for embedding within other applications, to WASM. This compiled ECL then serves as the runtime environment for Maxima, which itself is written in Common Lisp. The blog post highlights the intricate process of adapting ECL and Maxima for the WASM environment, including addressing memory management constraints and ensuring compatibility with browser APIs.
A key element of this browser-based Maxima implementation is a custom-built read-eval-print loop (REPL). This REPL provides a familiar interactive interface for users to input Maxima commands and receive computed results directly within the browser. The author emphasizes the importance of the REPL for a seamless user experience and explains how it's integrated with the WASM-compiled ECL and Maxima.
The project leverages a JavaScript library to facilitate communication between the browser environment and the WASM-compiled Lisp code. This library handles the exchange of data and commands between the JavaScript front-end and the backend Maxima engine. The post elaborates on the mechanisms used for this interoperability and how it enables the interactive functionality of the web application.
Furthermore, the blog post showcases a demonstration of the browser-based Maxima, allowing readers to experience its capabilities firsthand. The live demo provides a testament to the project's success in bringing a complex and powerful CAS to the web. The author also acknowledges potential future improvements, including optimizing performance and expanding the functionalities of the web interface. This port of Maxima demonstrates the growing potential of WASM for bringing computationally intensive applications, traditionally confined to desktop environments, to the accessibility and convenience of the web. The ability to access and utilize a full-fledged CAS like Maxima within a browser opens up new possibilities for education, research, and general mathematical exploration without requiring any specialized software installation.
Summary of Comments ( 41 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42853528
Commenters on Hacker News express excitement about Maxima running in the browser via WASM and ECL. Several highlight the potential for educational uses and interactive symbolic computation in web environments. Some discuss the performance overhead of WASM and suggest improvements, like pre-compilation for faster startup. The ability to share computational documents easily and integrate with other web technologies is praised. A few users mention other similar projects, including one using ClojureScript and another involving a Python CAS in the browser. The general sentiment is positive, with commenters intrigued by the possibilities this opens up for accessibility and collaborative mathematical work. One commenter expresses interest in building symbolic computation directly into a browser rather than running it as a VM.
The Hacker News post titled "Maxima in the browser using Embedded Common Lisp on WASM" (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42853528) has generated several comments discussing the implications and technical details of running Maxima, a computer algebra system (CAS), within a web browser using WebAssembly (Wasm).
Several commenters express enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the potential for accessible and collaborative mathematical computing. One user praises the developer for their work, noting the impressive feat of porting a complex system like Maxima to the browser environment. Another user anticipates the educational benefits, envisioning students utilizing this browser-based Maxima for learning and experimentation without complex installation procedures. The ease of sharing computational notebooks and collaborating on mathematical work is also mentioned as a significant advantage.
Some comments delve into technical aspects. One commenter inquires about the specific implementation of Common Lisp used for the project, highlighting the importance of garbage collection strategies for performance in a browser environment. Another technical discussion revolves around the security implications of running arbitrary code within the browser, acknowledging the potential risks while also noting the inherent sandboxed nature of Wasm.
Performance is another recurring theme in the comments. Users discuss the trade-offs between native execution and Wasm, with some expressing concerns about the potential performance limitations of running computationally intensive tasks within a browser. One commenter questions the feasibility of using this browser-based Maxima for complex symbolic calculations, wondering if the performance would be comparable to native installations.
The discussion also touches upon alternative approaches to browser-based CAS, with mentions of other projects using different technologies. One comment references an existing project using Jupyter notebooks and Docker, contrasting it with the Wasm-based approach presented in the article.
Finally, some comments express curiosity about the future development of the project, including potential features and integrations with other browser-based tools. One user suggests integrating the browser-based Maxima with other mathematical software or visualization libraries. Another comment asks about the possibility of offline functionality, enabling users to work without a constant internet connection.