Netlib

Netlib is a repository of software for scientific computing maintained by AT&T, Bell Laboratories, the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.^[1] Netlib comprises many separate programs and libraries. Most of the code is written in C and Fortran, with some programs in other languages.

History edit

The project began with email distribution on UUCP, ARPANET and CSNET in the 1980s.^[2]

The code base of Netlib was written at a time when computer software was not yet considered merchandise. Therefore, no license terms or terms of use are stated for many programs. Before the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 (and the earlier Copyright Act of 1976) works without an explicit copyright notice were public-domain software. Also, most of the Netlib code is work of US government employees and therefore in the public domain.^[3]^[4] While several packages therefore don't have explicit waiver/anti-copyright statements, for instance, the SLATEC package has an explicit statement.

Some well-known packages maintained in Netlib are:

The SLATEC package is special in that it comprises a number of other packages like BLAS and LINPACK.

^ Netlib FAQ
^ Jack J. Dongarra; Eric Grosse (May 1987). "Distribution of mathematical software via electronic mail". Communications. 30 (5): 403. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.73.7679. doi:10.1145/22899.22904. S2CID 52895937.
^ Jack Dongarra; Gene Golub; Eric Grosse; Cleve Moler; Keith Moore (2008). "Netlib and NA-Net: building a scientific computing community" (PDF). IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 30 (2): 30–41. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.102.7201. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2008.29. S2CID 991846. Retrieved 2018-05-13. The Netlib software repository was created in 1984 to facilitate quick distribution of public domain software routines for use in scientific computation.
^ Classical Fortran: Programming for Engineering and Scientific Applications: "The best known repository of public-domain scientific numerical software is netlib" (2009).