The Design of a User Interface for a Sparse Matrix Package

Abstract

Software for solving sparse systems of linear equations typically involves fairly complicated data structures and storage management In many cases the user of such software simply wants to solve a system of equations, and should not have to be concerned with the way this storage management IS actually done, or the way the matnx components are actually stored. In this paper we descnbe a sparse matnx package which effectively insulates the user from these considerations, but which still allows the user to convemently use the package 10 a vanety of ways. © 1979, ACM. All rights reserved.