Buying algorithms vs. programming

[std10093]

NAG is a well respected group as far as I know (basically have been told from more experienced people of the area). Especially people that are experts in Numerical Analysis like it much.

Salem you are a detektiv for sure

And since the detektiv spotted a cheat, no more is said by me..

[Mario F.]

*** is a well respected group as far as I know (basically have been told from more experienced people of the area). Especially people that are experts in Numerical Analysis like it much.

So little juice in that, such generic statements, seems like you are just making it up. But whatever... Meanwhile sorry if I removed the actual brand name and the redundant link from the quote, but I think we had enough spam on this thread already.

Respected or not respected, the real consideration here is whether paying for a numerical analysis library makes any sense to us. I'd think that for someone in the engineering and telecommunications areas it could. I don't know. I would however think not everyone on these areas buys algorithms. Definitely not interesting to about anyone on the scientific or academia areas, where open source development has produced some of the most advanced scientific applications out there without being concerned with "oh boy, this algorithm is so complicated, let me buy it instead!".

[phantomotap]

^_^;

This looks even more flaky with the spam context.

Respected or not respected, the real consideration here is whether paying for a numerical analysis library makes any sense to us.

Surely it would never make sense to by a library that isn't respected!? O_o

Soma

[whiteflags]

I disagree with previous posters.

Some algorithms are difficult and expensive to implement in software, support, or maintain. If you need a good quality solution to a problem, and if the cost, effort, or frustration of implementing it is more than the cost of buying one, then buy one. If you need a suite of algorithms, the the cost of buying a good-quality library is worthwhile.

Let's say your time costs your employer $100 per hour - which is actually a pretty low figure for a lot of people, as salary is often a small part of the total cost your employer incurs by employing you. If it would takes you 40 hours to do background research, coding, debugging, and other things to implement an algorithm, then simple mathematics says your employer would have been better off paying $3000 to buy a solution, and getting you to spend a couple of hours finding information so you can purchase it. Repeat that for a family of algorithms, and the decision becomes even easier.


In the numerical analysis world, NAG is pretty well known, and is certainly often bought for those sorts of reasons.

That's great but if I'm being honest it's still over my head.

Let me get this out of the way: I'm rather selfish. I try to treat bosses with respect, but I never got as far as thinking about what they spend on me to work. I could offer crocodile tears. Still, I would not want to be personally responsible for such a large sum of money. I don't even have a credit card with that kind of limit. Even if I need it, I'm basically screwed. There I said it. If I need to buy something that expensive, my boss better help me write it off as a business expenditure.

[schastain1]

All I asked for was expert opinions, how does that make me a spammer? I haven't sold anything here, why all the childish name calling? I have to make a choice about programming resources and I asked for intelligent opinions, and the positive ones seem more educated and informed. If you don't see that, read them yourself.

[Salem]

> how does that make me a spammer?
Posting the same crap in dozens of forums makes you a spammer.

Posting with 2 aliases makes you a shill.

[schastain1]

Look, my original question asked for honest opinions on the subject or algorithm libraries, especially from experts with some real-world experience in this subject. I have asked this question on several groups because I want a wide range of opinions before making a choice. That does not make me a spammer, it just makes me informed. Again, I asking for honest opinions and not selling anything.

If you have any expert opinions on the subject, I am would sincerely appreciate hearing from you. To those above who did answer my question honestly, both positive & negative, I thank you.

[Mario F.]

You already got your answers. There's nothing more to see. Stop pretending you are offended, little shill. It insults our intelligence.

[Salem]

> Look, my original question asked for honest opinions on the subject or algorithm libraries, especially from experts with some real-world experience in this subject.
And you and your stooge respond by denigrating anyone who gives a negative response. You're not interested in balanced discussion if you say things like:

> The positive responses are intelligently written and composed, while the negative ones are sarcastic and sloppy.
> It looks like the positive responses are much more informed than the negative ones
> the positive ones seem more educated and informed.

You're not interested in analysis, just a bunch of suck-ups padding your ego.

Thread closed, twits banned.