Development of Useful Quadrature Software, with Particular Emphasis on Microcomputers

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to address several issues which are associated with the development of software for quadrature. The emphasis here is on the delivery of service to users rather than on the development of new mathematics, methods or algorithms. Of these latter items, the need (intellectual and practical) has been amply demonstrated at this meeting. But one of my tasks is to help users solve problems and their needs are often very different from those of us who create the programs that they use. Another task, less pleasant, is to organize, catalog, and generally manage the software which scientists ultimately access. Both tasks merge in practice, questions and ideas emerge from each and should be fed back into the community of “producers”. Three main ideas will stand out: (1) the need for standardization (2) the need for better documentation and (3) the need for programs which capitalize on new computing technology.