This entry is about another mathematically oriented software package, that also has lots of other capabilities. I earlier write about FreeMat a MatLab workalike. SciLab has some of those capabilities, like optimization, Least Squares Regression, modeling of discrete systems, but SciLab can also acquire data from GPIB instruments, ADwin Real-Time and Data-Acquisition (DAQ), serial communication over Comm Ports, and provide a terminal for hardware interfacing. The community provided toolbox is so extensive that I would exceed my blog entry limit just copying the list here ! When I found this jewel about a year ago, I immediately thought to myself Open Source LabView(TM)! This application will not create any executable applications, and this application will not interface to all the instruments that LabView does, but if you have basic requirements this is definitely the way to go. There is even a SciLab LabView(TM) Gateway so you can use the two of these applications together for a total suite where LabView(TM) provides the instrument interface and SciLab provides the computational power. Talk about co-operation!

They have thought about us previous MatLab users by providing a page that describes the equivalent math functions through their wiki.

Wait there’s more! Scicos the SciLab block diagram modeler and simulator is also included in the download free of charge! Now you can ” create block diagrams to model and simulate the dynamics of hybrid dynamical systems and compile you models into executable code! And all this can be yours for the paltry price of free, nada, zip, squat! Just remember to give these hard working developers some thanks when you become rich and famous from the sweat of their fingers.