Maxima vs Mathematica : Which is Better?
Maxima
Maxima is a fairly complete computer algebra system written in Lisp with an emphasis on symbolic computation.
License: Open Source
VS
VS
Maxima VS Mathematica
Mathematica is a powerful commercial software known for its advanced symbolic computation, extensive graphing capabilities, and integration with other systems, making it suitable for professionals in various fields. In contrast, Maxima is an open-source alternative focused on symbolic mathematics with a good community support but lacks some of the advanced features and user-friendliness of Mathematica.
Maxima
Pros:
- Open-source and free to use
- Good for symbolic mathematics
- Decent community support
- Lightweight compared to Mathematica
- Customizable through Lisp programming
Cons:
- Less user-friendly interface
- Limited built-in functions compared to Mathematica
- Performance may lag for very complex computations
- Fewer graphical capabilities
- Less extensive documentation
Mathematica
Pros:
- Advanced symbolic computation capabilities
- Robust numerical algorithms
- Extensive graphing and visualization tools
- User-friendly interface
- Powerful programming language
- Integration with various software and systems
- Comprehensive documentation and support
- Strong community support
- High performance for complex calculations
- Cross-platform compatibility
Cons:
- High cost for licenses
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Resource-intensive
- Requires a robust computational environment
- Limited free resources
Compare Maxima
