Re: KQuantlib [Re: Quantlib design]

Posted by Bernd Johannes Wuebben-2 on Dec 27, 2000; 7:16pm
URL: http://quantlib.414.s1.nabble.com/Quantlib-design-tp1657p1660.html

> >Qt is a good GUI software toolkit. I am not an expert in this area but I
> >would probably also consider wxWindows.
> >A graphical interface to QuantLib would be nice so if someone can provide
> >it that's good.
>
> Well, which feature should a first KDE2/QT KQuantLib application have?

Where would an application build on the KDE libraries add value at this
point? We have python for scripting (other such as perl, java etc can be
added over time leveraging swig) As far as visual working with the data
is concerned I prefer spread sheets (Excel to be precise and I will
contribute the sceleton of an excel interface soon). Interfaces to matlab,
octave, R, etc  are essentially trivial to write which will address
another area of use. As far as hardcoded GUI applications are concerned I
can only see a use in the back-office sector, which is light years way
from where we are now and frankly just looking at our sources in their
current embryonic state I consider it evident that we have much more
important  things to worry about at this point that the back office.

> Note that a graphical interface may increase the number of users (~ number
of
> alpha/beta tester),

No, not gui interfaces, but rather spread sheet interfaces (Excel, Applix,
Star office, Gnumeric, Kspread). GUI interfaces in the classical sense of
the word, are IMHO virtually useless with the exception of certain
repetetive low level  back-office functions. Spread sheets are the tools
used on the floor and without them we are nothing (as far as the reail
world is concerned) and with them we have an ideal tool to play/test/
document functionality.

The creation of spreadsheet interfaces may require some brainstorming,
as they need ot be more or less automatically generated from the
sources. In the sources proper interfaces/objects/functions/pricers will
have to be defined through special syntax in the sources from which
spreadsheet interface sources will have to be generated automatically,
otherwise maintenance of the spread sheet bindings may become a headache.

Bernd