Cadabra
Cadabra is an open-source computer algebra system designed specifically for advanced theoretical physics computations involving tensor polynomial simplifications. It has a modern codebase focused on flexibility, extensibility and understandability.
Cadabra: Open-Source Computer Algebra System
An open-source computer algebra system designed for advanced theoretical physics computations, with a modern codebase focused on flexibility, extensibility and understandability.
What is Cadabra?
Cadabra is an open-source computer algebra system designed specifically for advanced theoretical physics computations involving tensor polynomial simplifications. It has a modern C++ codebase focused on flexibility, extensibility and understandability.
Some key features of Cadabra include:
- Symbolic tensor manipulation, with support for abstract and component indices
- Computation and simplification of tensor polynomials
- Substitution rules and patterns to manipulate expressions
- A Python front-end to interface with the C++ computational kernel
- A modular architecture to allow new data types and algorithms to be added
- Visualization tools to display computational graphs and inspect expression properties
- Interfaces to communicate with computer algebra systems like Mathematica
Cadabra is well-suited for theoretical physicists who need to perform symbolic manipulations of tensor expressions involving curvatures, field strengths, covariant derivatives, etc. It has been used successfully in research areas like general relativity, supergravity theories, string theory and related field theory models. The combination of symbolic power, extensibility and customizability makes Cadabra a useful addition to a physicist's computational toolbox.
Cadabra Features
Features
- Symbolic tensor computations
- Component tensor computations
- Extensible architecture
- Python API
- TeX and LaTeX output
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Specialized for tensor computations in theoretical physics
Clean and modular codebase
Active development and support
Cons
Limited user base compared to more general CAS
Less comprehensive documentation
Fewer supported operations than Mathematica or Maple
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to ReviewThe Best Cadabra Alternatives
View all Cadabra alternatives with detailed comparison →
Top Science & Math and Physics and other similar apps like Cadabra
Here are some alternatives to Cadabra:
Suggest an alternative ❐
R (programming language)
R is an open-source programming language and free software environment for statistical computing, bioinformatics, graphics, data science, and general-purpose programming. The R language provides a wide variety of statistical analysis techniques and graphical capabilities which make it a popular choice for data analysis and visualization.Some key features of R include:Open-source...
PTC Mathcad
PTC Mathcad is an engineering calculation software developed by PTC used primarily for solving, analyzing, and sharing critical engineering design knowledge. First introduced in 1986, Mathcad combines a professional design environment with the easy usability of paper and pencil.Mathcad allows engineers to capture and document their critical design projects and...
Mathematica
Mathematica is a computational software program developed by Wolfram Research. It is used for symbolic and numerical mathematics, data visualization, image processing, and a wide range of technical computing applications.Some key features of Mathematica include:A symbolic algebra engine that can manipulate mathematical expressions, solve equations, simplify expressions, compute derivatives and...
MATLAB
MATLAB (matrix laboratory) is a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and proprietary programming language developed by MathWorks. MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages.Some key features of MATLAB include:Matrix and array-oriented language for faster...
Maple
Maple is a proprietary computer algebra system or CAS designed for mathematical computation and modeling. It was first developed in 1980 by the Symbolic Computation Group at the University of Waterloo in Canada.Some of the key capabilities Maple offers include:Algebraic manipulation - simplify expressions, solve equations, factor polynomials, compute limits,...
Scilab
Scilab is an open source, cross-platform numerical computational package and a high level, numerically oriented programming language. It provides an interpreted programming language, linear algebra operations, numerical optimization, signal processing features, and the ability to plot functions and data.Originally created in 1990 by researchers from INRIA and ENPC in France,...
GNU Octave
GNU Octave is an open-source mathematical programming language and environment that is compatible with MATLAB. It allows users to perform numerical computations, data manipulation and visualization, and other mathematical tasks. Some key features of GNU Octave include:An extensive library of mathematical functions for linear algebra, differential equations, optimization, statistics, and...
Maxima
Maxima is a feature-rich open source computer algebra system that provides capabilities for symbolic computation and mathematical modeling. First released in 1968, Maxima descends from DOE Macsyma, one of the oldest such systems still in use and development today.Some of the key features and capabilities of Maxima include:Symbolic manipulation of...
SageMath
SageMath is an open-source mathematics software system that provides a viable free open source alternative to Magma, Maple, Mathematica and MATLAB. It is based on Python and implements a huge range of mathematics functionality including:Algebra - including commutative algebra, group theory, combinatorics, graph theory, exact linear algebra, and moreCalculus -...
WxMaxima
wxMaxima is a cross-platform and open source graphical user interface for the computer algebra system Maxima. It allows users to access Maxima's powerful symbolic and numerical capabilities through a simple, intuitive interface without needing to learn Maxima's command line syntax.Some key features and capabilities of wxMaxima include:Symbolic manipulations and calculations...
SymPy
SymPy is an open-source Python library for symbolic mathematics. It enables users to manipulate mathematical expressions, solve equations, expand functions into series, calculate limits, take derivatives and integrals, work with matrices, plot graphs, and more.Some key features of SymPy include:Symbolic calculation engine that can perform arithmetic, algebra, calculus, discrete math,...
Mathics
Mathics is an open-source computer algebra system designed to be compatible with Mathematica. It provides capabilities for symbolic and numerical calculations, 2D and 3D graphics, mathematical typesetting, and interactive use.Some of the key features of Mathics include:Symbolic calculations - simplify expressions, compute derivatives, integrals, limits, solve equations, etc.Numeric computations -...
GiNaC
GiNaC is an open-source computer algebra system designed for practical symbolic mathematical computations and manipulation. It provides a programming interface in C++ for symbolic calculations involving arbitrary precision integer, rational, complex number, symbolic computation, and matrix operations.Some of the key features of GiNaC include:Symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressionsSimplification and canonization...
GAP
GAP is an open-source computer algebra system for computational discrete algebra, with particular emphasis on computational group theory. It provides a programming language, a library of thousands of functions implementing algebraic algorithms, and extensive documentation.Some key features of GAP include:Specialized capabilities for working with groups, including permutation groups, matrix groups,...
