Current version:
Vector Tools 1.0b4 (requires Mac OS X 10.3
or later)
Older versions:
Vector Tools 1.0b1
Vector Tools 1.0b2
Vector Tools has come quite a long way in the year since the last update. Vector tools is now strictly an expression based calculator. This means that you can type up your linear algebra equations in vector tools and get an answer. In general, this is more efficient than the fill-in-the-blank method I originally used to test out lalib, which I'm using in another program. With the conversion between bases, however, it is a bit more difficult, as you are now required to know how this is done (though I have added some tricks to make it easily do-able).
The expression parser does not simply evaluate an expression as it runs across it. The expression is broken down into values and operators, which are stored rather than evaluated. This expression tree is only traversed when a value is requested (which in Vector Tools is immediately after the tree has been created).
The benefit of this approach is that the heirarchy of results is known at all times. Therefore, Vector Tools gives you the option to see this heirarchy. Many expressions can easily be broken down into a simple tree structure. Some, however can't. If you were to put expressions inside of vectors or matrices, these could not easily be displayed as a tree structure. For this reason, Vector Tools gives a tooltip pop-up when you hold the mouse over any value. This tooltip shows the sub-expression that created the value.
Vector Tools 1.0b4 also adds variable support. This is useful for creating constants or for simplifying nested functions. Variables can be dependent on other variables. However, to ensure there are no dependency loops, new expressions can only be dependent on existing variables.
Check out some screen shots.
Known Issues:
The variable controller tab will hang if you use a variable before it has been defined. This is currently checked on application launch, but not at variable entry. Quit the program and open it again. Any dependency loops will be removed (even if you are mean enough to put them in the preference file by hand).
There are some tree arrangement issues relating to large expressions that deal with matrices. I haven't narrowed this one down yet.
Some tool tip original string values don't show as deep as they could. This is specific to expressions inside of vectors or matrices in some odd situations. I'm not certain that this is a big deal.
If you find my programs useful, I would greatly appreciate a donation. This will promote further development.
This page was last edited on 2/28/2004.