MathML and Java

Question

Hi all.

I've been doing some research for a mathematical Android related project I'd like to embark upon and I stumbled across for the first time MathML.

Does anyone know of any Java libraries which can do any (preferably all) of the following things?

1. Parse MathML
2. Output MathML by parsing standard mathematical notation
3. Render MathML (particularly important)
4. Do any other cool maths-ey things (like re-arrange equations in terms of different things)

Number 3 is probably the most important, and number 4 the least.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The W3C MathML Implementations page (http://www.w3.org/Math/Software/mathml%5Fsoftware%5Fcat%5Feditors.html) has a few that mention Java-based tools... that might be a good place to start looking.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It depends on having a browser that will render MathML, of course.

An alternative would be to try jsMath, a JavaScript library that uses TeX to render equations.

Answer 3

I have used this for your Point #3 above (rendering): http://jeuclid.sourceforge.net/

It does a pretty nifty job taking MathML and creating a JPG, PNG, etc. It will also display the equations in a GUI (and I'm guessing you can look at the GUI code and incorporate that into your own project)

Answer 4

I've used JEuclid for rendering MathML in my Symja project (Java symbolic math system - point 4 of your list). Maybe, that JEuclid is to slow (especially at startup) for rendering MathML on a mobile phone?

Other alternatives for rendering math expressions with TeX:

• JMathTex
• SnuggleTeX

and for re-arranging equations or as general Java math libraries:

• Mathrider (Yacas for Java)
• Jasymca - Symbolic Calculator for Mobile Devices
• Java Algebra System
• The Apache Commons Mathematics Library

Calculator projects for Android:

• scientific-calculator-for-android (Apache license)
• Jasymca for Android (GNU public license)
• Arity calculator for android (Apache license)

Answer 5

JScience (jscience.org) looks like it has some experimental support for MathML being introduced.

• JScience MathML Java class hierarchy
• JScience MathML Java package classes

I would like to say I am extremely impressed with the features the JScience author has chosen and proven able to support with his powerful Java library.

It is a pretty amazing piece of craftsmanship. If you are doing any significant amount of sophisticated mathematics in your Java programs, or just want to create a utility to punt around with then you should take a look at this library. It might even give you some ideas for things you never thought about doing before because they were "too hard".

There is an open source project named MathEclipse that might interest you too.

Answer 6

@JonnySoftware, I have looked at the org.JScience.ml.mathml package that you suggested; however, it looks like this one is used to create mathml file rather than parsing content mathml, isn't it? Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Do you (or any others) have any suggestion for java API used for parsing content mathml?

@Tom R Did you find solution for your question 1 (parsing content mathml)?

Thanks