A statistical package based on Pnuts

Abstract

We are developing a statistical system named Jasp in order to utilize recent advanced computational environments. We design Jasp language based on Pnuts, a script language written in and for Java language. Pnuts is a functional language without type declaration, and is easy to use for tentative and experimental work. We add tools for statistical analysis, and object oriented syntax mainly to bundle related functions. Besides a Jasp language window, Jasp user interface also has a graphical user interface window to show the history of analysis and to operate the system by pop-up menus. These two windows are tightly connected and can be used alternatively. Jasp is realized by client/server approach, and one client can execute calculations on more than one servers and can perform distributed computing. Jasp is able to use programs written in foreign languages such as C, C++ and Fortran.