Case study in China onOpen-source Software for Scientific Computation via

Scilab

OW2 Corporate Networking MeetingSeptember 21, 2010, Beihang University

Bao-Gang Hu (胡包钢 ), LIAMAInstitute of Automation

Chinese Academy of Sciencesemail: hubg@nlpr.ia.ac.cn

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Outline (大纲 )

1. Scientific computation and some

data in China

2. Why use Scilab?

3. 10 years activities in China

4. Lessons learnt

5. Perspective

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1. Scientific Computation and Some Data in China

● Scientific Computation: Key IT components in China

● Related sectors:● Industries, finance, economics, ...● Educations

● Which user groups are larger?● scientists and engineers● universities and schools

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Some Data in China

● Software for SC is necessary● Potential users are “huge” in China.

For education training– University students (6 millions)– High-school students (30 millions)– Middle-school students (70 millions)

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“Standard for High-school Mathematics Teaching” (2003)

by Chinese Ministry of EducationNecessary Learning Subjects:

● Computer algorithms● Probability and statistics● Functions, polynomial, etc.

http://www2.chinaedu.com/101resource003/new/new/0101.htm

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Objectives

● To present case study ● on using OSS Scilab for scientific

computation, and● within education sector in the

mainland of China● To summarize the lessons learnt and

personal perspective

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2. Why use Scilab?

● Open-source and free.● More closed to Matlab for using.● Sufficient for education purpose.● Freedom of license for fully self-

developed toolbox

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Another Reason

● Supported by INIRA and LIAMA for “2001 Sino-French Workshop of SCILAB” , Beijing, China, April 9, 2001

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3. Ten-Year Activities in China

● Focused on Scilab disseminations within universities and research institutes.

● Popular (mostly illegal) uses of Matlab ● Co-Organised 10 times “Scilab Workshops”

and 9 times “Scilab Contests”.● Joined with OW2 in 2009

● Co-Organised “2009 International Workshop of OSS for Scientific Computation”

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Progresses ● Received support from MOST and National

863 High-Tech Program● Supporting activities Many universities

● About 100 works submitted to Contests over 30 universities

● Over 40 students and professors visited INRIA and Scilab Team

● Teaching platform● Ninxia University on HDL● Beiyou University on Communication ● Chinese Agriculture University on Algorithms

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Progresses in 2009-2010 ● Scilab-OW2 Joint Contests

● Gui Yang(2009)● Yinchuan (2010)

● 1st IEEE-OSSC Workshop (2009)

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4. Lessons Learnt

● Lesson 1: Scialb is sufficient for education purpose.

● My experiences:● for graduate teaching: “Intelligent

Control”● CAS (2001-2008):

● for undergraduate teaching: “Mathematical Modelling”● ECPekin (2008-2010)

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Math textbook in High-School

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Lesson 2: Scialb is a best platform to students for innovation

初始状态 随机点击结果状态剩余： 30

变步常优化点击 结果状态剩余： 7李昌智 (2002)

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Lesson 2: Scialb is a best platform to students for innovation.

● 技术应用层面：– 可以完全胜任农林教育平台应用

● 专业道德层面：– 尊重知识产权，合法使用软件

● 教育发展层面：– “ ”自由，开放，共享 是教育发展的基石

● 培养什么样的人才– 只是盗版软件应用高手，不懂版权协议

– 只会应用微软产品，无法与国际开源接轨

Genetic Algorithms (Li, 2003)

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Team Work from Students

“We think and hope that what we have done will provide a sound basis for further development, and that through it, increasing numbers of Chinese scientists will use Scilab in their work”. - Scilab Group of Xiamen University March 10th,2002

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Lesson 3: China needs a top-donw action in education domain

● 10-year and bottom-up actions have not changed global situations in China.

● Two schools were equipped with open-source computers by donation from a professor in LIAMA, but changed into Windows illegally later.

● China missed a top-down action for enforcing IP rules in campuses.

● Destructive to commercial and open-source software developments

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5. Perspectives

Challenges- Educational software plays an

important role.- “Software piracy” is a serious

problem, particularly in schools. - “Open source” is still a new concept

for the majority of users.- Misunderstanding or habits may

indicate a long-term campaign.

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Selection of the pathways

● “Fighting Piracy" is only a starting point in education domains.

● “Innovation” is a final goal.● "OSS" is the best solution.

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Open-source for Scientific Computation (OSSC)

Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) idea :

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Our Goals

● To train students with a basic skill on OSSC from high-school studies

● To develop a high-level knowledge for their undergraduate/graduate studies

● To be the main contributors for OSSC in this world

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Market Promotion by some software firms in China:

“Using copyright software, I am getting proud ”.

Our suggestion:“Developing open-source software,

I am getting proud ”.Puffin for SCILABPuffin for SCILABDesigned by Who’s HuDesigned by Who’s Hu

Unfinished Final Remarks

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Acknowledgement

• Thanks to Cedric Thomas for the invitation.

• Thanks to all people who supported the related activities.

• This document is made by using OpenOffice.org. via Ubuntu platform.

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References（ http://liama.ia.ac.cn/wiki/user:hubg:article）

Hu, B.-G., “Open Source: Toward Innovations through Educational Development in China”, “Proceedings of the First International Conference on Open Source Systems”, M. Scotto and G. Succi (Eds.), Genova, Italy, July 11-15, 2005 , pp. 254-258.

胡包钢，中国教育信息化发展进程中面临的最大问题是什么 ?—— “ ”兼论选择 开放源码 软件路径 ,《贵州师范大学学报 (社会科学版 )》 , 2007年 ,2007-04, pp. 117-122.

胡包钢，试论中国教育领域中的知识产权保护现状， 2007年 5月 4日。