Jacques Calmet and Karsten Homann Abstract
While computational algebra could potentially play an important role in advanced mathematics and computer science, it has been said that progress is often hindered through a lack of knowledge and skills on the part of researchers. A researcher wishing to take fully advantage of computational algebra must assess different sophisticated packages and gain an understanding of their capabilities. Consequently, to integrate a vast amount of specialized software has been one of the key motivations in the Magma project.
We designed and implemented an interface between DTP and MAGMA. DTP is an automated theorem prover which is based on resolution. It is freely available and written in Common Lisp. As MAGMA does not provide interfaces for interaction we implemented communication through standards named pipes. DTP acts as master providing the users interface and calling MAGMA.
To illustrate some features of the combination we give some simple examples of a classical exercise book in group theory.