GNU Octave vs SageMath

Struggling to choose between GNU Octave and SageMath? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

GNU Octave is a Development solution with tags like math, numerical-computing, matlab-compatible.

It boasts features such as High-level programming language for numerical computations, Syntax is largely compatible with MATLAB, Free and open-source software, Supports linear algebra, numerical integration, FFTs and other math functions, 2D/3D plotting and visualization capabilities, Can call external libraries written in C, C++, Fortran, etc, Cross-platform - runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, etc and pros including Free alternative to MATLAB, Powerful math and visualization capabilities, Extensive library of mathematical functions, Can reuse MATLAB code with little to no changes, Open source and community supported.

On the other hand, SageMath is a Education & Reference product tagged with algebra, analysis, calculus, combinatorics, geometry, number-theory, research, teaching.

Its standout features include Open-source mathematical software system, Supports various mathematical domains like algebra, calculus, combinatorics, numerical computation, Includes libraries like NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, Matplotlib, Interactive notebook interface (Sage Notebook) for calculations, plotting, documentation, Supports code in Python, Cython, C/C++, Fortran and more, Can be used as a server to collaborate with others, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Very extensive math functionality, Integrates many existing math libraries, Can be extended by writing new modules, Notebook interface good for learning and documentation.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

GNU Octave

GNU Octave

GNU Octave is an open-source mathematical programming language that is compatible with MATLAB. It can perform numerical computations, data visualization, and other math tasks.

Categories:
math numerical-computing matlab-compatible

GNU Octave Features

  1. High-level programming language for numerical computations
  2. Syntax is largely compatible with MATLAB
  3. Free and open-source software
  4. Supports linear algebra, numerical integration, FFTs and other math functions
  5. 2D/3D plotting and visualization capabilities
  6. Can call external libraries written in C, C++, Fortran, etc
  7. Cross-platform - runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, etc

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free alternative to MATLAB

Powerful math and visualization capabilities

Extensive library of mathematical functions

Can reuse MATLAB code with little to no changes

Open source and community supported

Cons

Not as fully-featured or optimized as MATLAB

Limited tech support compared to commercial software

Some MATLAB features and toolboxes not available

Smaller user community than MATLAB


SageMath

SageMath

SageMath is an open-source mathematics software system licensed under the GPL. It builds on top of many existing open-source packages including NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib, Sympy, and more. It provides an interactive environment and library to support research and teaching across algebra, analysis, calculus, combinatorics, geometry, number theory, and more.

Categories:
algebra analysis calculus combinatorics geometry number-theory research teaching

SageMath Features

  1. Open-source mathematical software system
  2. Supports various mathematical domains like algebra, calculus, combinatorics, numerical computation
  3. Includes libraries like NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, Matplotlib
  4. Interactive notebook interface (Sage Notebook) for calculations, plotting, documentation
  5. Supports code in Python, Cython, C/C++, Fortran and more
  6. Can be used as a server to collaborate with others

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Very extensive math functionality

Integrates many existing math libraries

Can be extended by writing new modules

Notebook interface good for learning and documentation

Cons

Less user friendly than some commercial alternatives

Not as fast as optimized commercial math software

Requires more programming knowledge than some alternatives

Documentation can be technical

Not as polished UI as some alternatives