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Re: VersionHistory[ commandName] would be nice (was Mathematica 5.2: The 64-bit and...)

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg59026] Re: [mg58998] VersionHistory[ commandName] would be nice (was Mathematica 5.2: The 64-bit and...)
• From: Pratik Desai <pdesai1 at umbc.edu>
• Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:24:47 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <dbnj2n$hpn$1@smc.vnet.net> <dbou1g$snt$1@smc.vnet.net> <200507230932.FAA29060@smc.vnet.net> <dbv9h2$ec1$1@smc.vnet.net> <200507260802.EAA00390@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Peltio wrote:

>"Pratik Desai" wrote
>
>  
>
>>I think the help browser has such a feature
>>New in Version 5.1
>>    
>>
>
>Yes, but I was talking about a command that would return, given a command
>name, at least a list of two numbers: one with the version of Mathematica
>where it was first introduced, and one with the version(s) of Mathematica
>that had its syntax or behavior modified or enhanced.
>
>Something like (I'm making this example up)
>
>    VersionHistory["N"]
>        {1.0, {2.0, 2.2, 3.0, 4.2, 5.1}}
>
>Which mean that the command N was there since the first version and was
>modified in subsequent versions. (More sophisticated information could be
>given - like a list of version where the syntax was modified, a list of
>version where the output was modified, the version where the command was
>superseded... - but this is the essential bit that's needed).
>
>*Once we have this*, it's easy to write procedures that, given a program o
>package written in a given version, will tell us what are the commands used
>that have been modified since the time of writing, with respect to the
>version we are running. It would be easier to upgrade one's packages, and it
>would be easier to identify the source of compatibility problems in packages
>that don't work on a different version of Mathematica.
>Sometimes the simple fact that N[0] gives 0 in a version and 0. in another
>one can prevent a package from functioning properly.
>Passing a package to the YetToBeBorn function
>
>    CompatibilityCheck[packageName_String, versA_->versB_]
>
>could spare hours of code re-reading by pointing out the causes of possible
>incompatibility.
>The compatibility table and VersionHistory command should be available as a
>package on the mathsource so that people with older versions could see why
>it is time for them to upgrade if they want to run the latest packages.
>
>It's a small step for WRI, yet a giant leap for mathkind. : )
>  
>
I suspect the WRI developers already have something like this and they 
haven't made it public yet.

>cheers,
>Peltio
>Invalid address in reply-to. Crafy demunging required to mail me.
>
>  
>


-- 
Pratik Desai
Graduate Student
UMBC
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Phone: 410 455 8134

• References:
  • Re: Mathematica 5.2: The 64-bit and multicore release
    • From: "Peltio" <peltio@trilight.zone>
  • VersionHistory[ commandName] would be nice (was Mathematica 5.2: The 64-bit and...)
    • From: "Peltio" <peltio@trilight.zone>