The Open Source Lab at City College
The Open Source Lab at City College is a resource for students interesting in learning how to participate in the open source "gift culture". It sponsors independent projects that are useful for student education.


Axiom, The Scientific Computation System:
Axiom is a general purpose Computer Algebra system. It is useful for research and development of mathematical algorithms. It defines a strongly typed, mathematically correct type hierarchy. It has a programming language and a built-in compiler. Axiom has been in development since 1973 and was sold as a commercial product. Tim Daly was given permission to release it as open source and is now one of the principle developers of AXIOM. Efforts are underway to extend this software to (a) develop a better user interface (b) make it useful as a teaching tool (c) develop an algebra server protocol (d) integrate additional mathematics (e) rebuild the algebra in a literate programming style (f) integrate logic programming (g) develop an Axiom Journal with referreed submissions.


CAISS-STAT
CAISS-STAT is a general purpose statistics package intended for classroom use. It includes a full statistics textbook integrated with the zero learning curve interface (from Magnus). This allows students to quickly understand how to use the package without taking up valuable classroom time.


Expacon
Expacon is a logic puzzle game based upon group theoretical principles, and utilizing symbols and processes originating in group theory. The objective of the game is to transform a given word symbol into another word symbol, by selectively expanding and contracting the original word. A print edition of the game was the basis for a computerized version, with stylized treatments and player assistance features. It has been called a logic learning tool and brain exercise program, but is used most often as an amusement device.


Magnus
Magnus is a large, free, special purpose computer algebra system for doing research in Infinite Group Theory. It implements a large set of procedures which can be applied to Infinite Groups to extract properties of the group. It features a "zero learning curve", easy to use interface. Since not all of the procedures will either find and answer or terminate, Magnus also features parallel resource controlled execution of the parallel procedures so multiple tests can be applied. We have also developed a second scripting version of MAGNUS using PYTHON, which extends the use of MAGNUS. Both versions of MAGNUS are now available on our web site.


Tree Set Visualization Project:
Evolutionary trees, or phylogenies, are an essential tool in biology, used in all kinds of processes such as understanding evolution, designing new drugs, predicting gene expression, and determining the origin of a virus strain. Often, for one reason or another, scientists get a large set of possible phylogenies, and they would like to understand the structure of the set and the relationships between the various possible evolutionary trees. The Tree Set Visualization Project develops tools for efficiently understanding many possible phylogenies with interactive software.


Wildebeest Computational Cluster
Wildebeest is a 132-processor Beowulf cluster, a joint project between Lehman College, City College, and CAISS, supporting primarily the research activities of Professors Katherine St. John (Lehman College), Sean Cleary (CCNY), and Gilbert Baumslag (CCNY). The research projects include evolutionary tree reconstruction in computational biology, genetic algorithms in combinatorial group theory, computer experiments on parafree groups, and modelling turbulent fluid flows arising in the early stages of combustion, and questions and simulations in computer networking. We have been working with George Havas of the University of Queensland on discerning whether certain presentations define the trivial group. We plan on making GAP, MAGNUS, AXIOM and a number of stand-alone packages of Havas available on Wildebeest.