What language for a graphical geometry demonstration?

Question

Hi, I studied computer engineering 10 years ago and i know all the basics of object programming. I didn't write any code for 5 years but actually I'm thinking to go back to this business for a specific need :

Now I'm a mathematic teacher in a secondary school and i want to develop a little software that help students to organize their geometrical demonstration. Like in FreeMind, i want the student to have a graphic interface where he can choose a theorem and then he would have to fill the conditions and the conclusion associated with that theorem. The graphic interface would support a "drag and drop" feature to connect the nodes (conditions or conclusions), allowing a complex demonstration with many steps.

Considering my little experience in programming, what language do you advise me for getting this thing done. Thank you

Answer 1

I've found that Visual Basic and VB.NET have the lowest barrier to entry for quickly creating GUI applications. Since this is a mathematics centered application, you might want to see what you can do in Mathematica or MATLAB.

Answer 2

Another not-writing-your-own candidate could be GNU Octave and GNU Plot, since they are free.

Answer 3

There are a number of interactive geometry systems or environments. Additionally, there's thinkgs like WinKE and Poussin, which may be too far afield.

Answer 4

I suspect you're looking for something like The Geometer's Sketchpad. Otherwise, I'd suggest something like Maple, Mathematica (there are good academic prices), or MathCAD.

Answer 5

Maybe you can use GEONext as a basis for your implementation. It's written in Java and published under the GNU General Public License. You can try it online here.

Answer 6

The software I want to create is more a help to visualize a demonstration with connectors.

Lets take an example : the Theorem B needs 2 inputs as conditions and give 1 output as a result. When the user choose "Theorem B" in a list, a connector with 2 inputs and one output appears on the "demo pad". Then the user has to fill the two inputs by typing in a textbox or connecting them to the output of, say theorem A already done. The software doesn't check the content of the different input and output, it just connects the different intermediate results that lead to the final conclusion. It is more about a organization chart...

Thank you

Answer 7

Processing.org is also a nice Java based environment to experiment with sketches

By the way, you probably want to help your students find the "light switch" in a dark room as explained here - how mathematicians think

Answer 8

Processing.org is also a nice Java based environment to experiment with sketches

By the way, you probably want to help your students find the "light switch" in a dark room as explained here - how mathematicians think