Object-Oriented Implementation of Numerical Methods: An Introduction with Java & Smalltalk

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.

* 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.

Didier Besset obtained a degree in physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and a Ph.D. in high-energy physics at the University of Geneva. He did postgraduate research at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and was Adjunct Professor at Princeton University where he taught physics. Since 1990 he has worked as an independent consultant on decision-support systems based on medical or technical data, all written using object-oriented technology. He has been programming in Smalltalk since 1987 and in Java since 1997.