Since it does not use Mathlink how does WITM work?
• Answer: WITM uses PHP, (which is a server-side scripting language) to pass Mathematica commands typed into the Text box on WITM to standard input of Mathematica. Once Mathematica has processed those commands, it puts the results on its standard output. The PHP code pipes that back to the browser, so the user sees Mathematica’s results. If the results are graphical in nature, there is not a lot of point in sending back a load of coordinates to the user. Instead the Mathematica function Export is used to create a GIF file. The web browser is configured to show that GIF file if it is present.
Related Questions
- I don have administrative (root) access on the server which runs Mathematica and Apache. Would it be possible for me to install WITM and access Mathematica, without bothering my system admin?
- The notebook interface of Mathematica is quite hard to use, with the cells. Would using the much simpler web-based interface of WITM be a sensible way to learn Mathematica?
- Is WITM easy to install?
