Numerical methods naturally lend themselves to an object-oriented approach. Mathematics builds high- level ideas on top of previously described, simpler ones. Once a property is demonstrated for a given concept, it can be applied to any new concept sharing the same premise as the original one, similar to the ideas of reuse and inheritance in object-oriented (OO) methodology.

Few books on numerical methods teach developers much about designing and building good code. Good computing routines are problem-specific. Insight and understanding are what is needed, rather than just recipes and black box routines. Developers need the ability to construct new programs for different applications.

Object-Oriented Implementation of Numerical Methods reveals a complete OO design methodology in a clear and systematic way. Each method is presented in a consistent format, beginning with a short explanation and following with a description of the general OO architecture for the algorithm. Next, the code implementations are discussed and presented along with real-world examples that the author, an experienced software engineer, has used in a variety of commercial applications.

On the enclosed CD-ROM, you'll find files containing tested source code implementations of all the algorithms discussed in the book in both Java and Smalltalk. This includes repository files for VisualAge for Java and VisualAge for Smalltalk under ENVY.

* Reveals the design methodology behind the code, including design patterns where appropriate, rather than just presenting canned solutions.
* Implements all methods side by side in both Java and Smalltalk. This contrast can significantly enhance your understanding of the nature of OO programming languages.
* Provides a step-by-step pathway to new object-oriented techniques for programmers familiar with using procedural languages such as C or Fortran for numerical methods.
* Includes a chapter on data mining, a key application of numerical methods.

Average Customer Review: ( 6 customer reviews )
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The inclusion of very readable Smalltalk and Java source code is very useful.

For use in a course, I would like to see the material complemented by exercises.

9 of 11 found the following review helpful:

Oh man, is this book neat!Dec 07, 2000
By Lynn B. Hales
Dr. Besset has written an uncommonly great book where he has given us important tools while teaching object-oriented analysis and design. Having both Smalltalk and Java code included is a gift. As a smalltalker, I greatly appreciate the inclusion of the Smalltalk code. The book is well organized, very readable and provides the basis for individuals to extend the classes provides as well as build applications with the included code. The code also provides solid examples of object-oriented programming style that will aid the newer programmers in developing effective use of both Java and Smalltalk.

10 of 13 found the following review helpful:

Disappointing Introduction to the Implementation of Numerical MethodsAug 31, 2005
By Leandro Caniglia
As a mathematically oriented programmer I found no interesting ideas in this book. The content and treatment of the material is a bit too simplistic and, when viewed as an introduction, it looks unattractive.

Also, as a Smalltalk programmer, I was disappointed with the way algorithms are implemented. The author makes no attempt to take advantage of the wonderful expressiveness of the Smalltalk language. Classes and methods have been given awkward names; the source code is not elegant; basic objects such as matrices and polynomials are insufficiently modeled and treated as mere data structures; algorithms are not viewed as objects but as conventional procedures. Because of the flatness of the approach the resulting programming style is ugly when compared to Smalltalk standards. The eloquence and richness of pure object orientation is not achieved or suggested. SUnit tests, which would have fitted perfectly in all chapters, have been ignored everywhere.


7 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Reconciling Numerical Methods and Object-OrientationDec 23, 2000
By ducasse
I really enjoyed this book because it shows that a high level language such as Smalltalk can efficiently model a complex domain like numerical methods. Besset presents a conceptual framework where the concepts are extended and reused, showing the power of OO programming. I also liked the structure of examples followed by a formal foundation, implementation, and implementation discussion.

3 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Excellent!Dec 06, 2000
By Robert Street
An excellent rebuttle to the age old claim that object oriented methodologies have no place in scientific computing. The text is throrough and well-written, without wasting massive amounts of space on code (ala many of the books released in the past two years). While this text may be better suited for an academic environment, anyone involved in mathematical computation can benefit from this text.

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