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Runtime Environment

Introduction for Runtime Environment

- A file which is loaded automatically for you when you start up a MACSYMA, to customize MACSYMA for you. It is possible to have an init file written as a BATCH file of macsyma commands. We hope this makes it easier for users to customize their macsyma environment. Here is an example init file 

        /*-*-macsyma-*-*/ 
        setup_autoload("share\;bessel",j0,j1,jn);
        showtime:all; comgrind:true;

The strange looking comment at the top of the file "/*-*-macsyma-*-*/" tells that it is a macsyma-language file. Also: "SETUP_AUTOLOAD" can be used to make functions in BATCH files autoloading, meaning that you can then use (for instance, here) the functions J0, J1 and Jn from the BESSEL package directly because when you use the function the BESSEL package will be loaded in for you automatically. If the second file name in the argument to SETUP_AUTOLOAD is not specified (the preferred usage) then the standard search for second file names of "FASL", "TRLISP", and ">" is done.

INTERRUPTS

- There are several ways the user can interrupt a MACSYMA computation, usually with a control character. Do DESCRIBE(CHARACTERS); for details. MACSYMA will also be interrupted if ^Z (control-Z) is typed, as this will exit back to Unix shell level Usually Control-C interrupts the computation putting you in a break loop. Typing :t should give you top level maxima back again.

Definitions for Runtime Environment

Function: ALARMCLOCK (arg1, arg2, arg3)
will execute the function of no arguments whose name is arg3 when the time specified by arg1 and arg2 elapses. If arg1 is the atom "TIME" then arg3 will be executed after arg2 seconds of real-time has elapsed while if arg1 is the atom "RUNTIME" then arg3 will be executed after arg2 milliseconds of cpu time. If arg2 is negative then the arg1 timer is shut off.

Function: ALLOC
takes any number of arguments which are the same as the replies to the "run out of space" question. It increases allocations accordingly. E.g. If the user knows initially that his problem will require much space, he can say ALLOC(4); to allocate the maximum amount initially. See also the DYNAMALLOC switch.

Function: BUG ("message")
similar to mail, sends a message to MACSYMA Mail. This may be used for reporting bugs or suspected bugs in MACSYMA. Expressions may be included by referring to them, outside double quotes, e.g. BUG("I am trying to integrate",D3,"but it asks for more list space. What should I do?");

Function: CLEARSCREEN ()
Clears the screen. The same as typing control-L.

Function: CONTINUE
- Control-^ typed while in MACSYMA causes LISP to be entered. The user can now type any LISP S-expression and have it evaluated. Typing (CONTINUE) or ^G (control-G) causes MACSYMA to be re-entered.

Function: DDT ()
Exits from MACSYMA to the operating system level. (The same as control-Z on ITS, or control-C on Tops-20.)

Function: DELFILE (file-specification)
will delete the file given by the file-specification (i.e. firstname, secondname, device, user) from the given device.

Function: DISKFREE ()
With no args or an arg of TRUE, will return the total number of free blocks of disk space in the system. With an arg of 0, 1, or 13, it will return the number of free blocks of diskspace on the respective disk pack. With an arg of SECONDARY or PRIMARY, it will return the total number of free blocks of disk space on the secondary or primary disk pack respectively.

declaration: FEATURE
- A nice adjunct to the system. STATUS(FEATURE) gives you a list of system features. At present the list for MC is: MACSYMA, NOLDMSG, MACLISP, PDP10, BIGNUM, FASLOAD, HUNK, FUNARG, ROMAN, NEWIO, SFA, PAGING, MC, and ITS. Any of these "features" may be given as a second argument to STATUS(FEATURE,...); If the specified feature exists, TRUE will be returned, else FALSE. Note: these are system features, and not really "user related". See also DESCRIBE(features); for more user-oriented features.

Function: FEATUREP (a,f)
attempts to determine whether the object a has the feature f on the basis of the facts in the current data base. If so, it returns TRUE, else FALSE. See DESCRIBE(FEATURES); . 
(C1) DECLARE(J,EVEN)$
(C2) FEATUREP(J,INTEGER);
(D2)                                TRUE

Function: ROOM ()
types out a verbose description of the state of storage and stack management in the Macsyma. This simply utilizes the Lisp ROOM function. ROOM(FALSE) - types out a very terse description, containing most of the same information.

Function: STATUS (arg)
will return miscellaneous status information about the user's MACSYMA depending upon the arg given. Permissible arguments and results are as follows:
  • TIME - the time used so far in the computation.
  • DAY - the day of the week.
  • DATE - a list of the year, month, and day.
  • DAYTIME - a list of the hour, minute, and second.
  • RUNTIME - accumulated cpu time times the atom "MILLISECONDS" in the current MACSYMA.
  • REALTIME - the real time (in sec) elapsed since the user started up his MACSYMA.
  • GCTIME - the garbage collection time used so far in the current computation.
  • TOTALGCTIME - gives the total garbage collection time used in MACSYMA so far.
  • FREECORE - the number of blocks of core your MACSYMA can expand before it runs out of address space. (A block is 1024 words.) Subtracting that value from 250*BLOCKS (the maximum you can get on MC) tells you how many blocks of core your MACSYMA is using up. (A MACSYMA with no "fix" file starts at approx. 191 blocks.)
  • FEATURE - gives you a list of system features. At present the list for MC is: MACSYMA, NOLDMSG, MACLISP, PDP10, BIGNUM, FASLOAD, HUNK, FUNARG, ROMAN, NEWIO, SFA, PAGING, MC, and ITS. Any of these "features" may be given as a second argument to STATUS(FEATURE,...); If the specified feature exists, TRUE will be returned, else FALSE. Note: these are system features, and not really "user related".

For information about your files, see the FILEDEFAULTS(); command.

Function: TIME (Di1, Di2, ...)
gives a list of the times in milliseconds taken to compute the Di. (Note: the Variable SHOWTIME, default: [FALSE], may be set to TRUE to have computation times printed out with each D-line.)

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