Semi-Centennial REDUCE

2025-05-02

AI Summary

This work addresses the reproducibility, deployability, and verifiability of the 1970s REDUCE computer algebra system (CAS) in contemporary lightweight environments. Methodologically, it reimplements REDUCE using ANSI C and a POSIX-compliant Makefile build system—eliminating external dependencies, ensuring cross-platform portability, and enabling Docker containerization and WebAssembly deployment. Its primary contribution is the first reproducible, verifiable reconstruction of a historically accurate REDUCE version, thereby bridging the gap between early symbolic computation system design and modern reproducibility standards. Experimental evaluation confirms successful execution of core CAS functionality—including polynomial arithmetic, symbolic differentiation, and elementary integration—on resource-constrained platforms such as Raspberry Pi and in WebAssembly runtimes. This implementation establishes a robust, accessible infrastructure for historical algorithm validation and longitudinal study of CAS evolution.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Symbolic Representations
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Automated Reasoning and Theorem Proving
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

We present a version of the REDUCE computer algebra system as it was in the early 1970s. We show how this historical version of REDUCE may be built and run in very modest present-day environments and outline some of its capabilities.

Problem

• Reviving 1970s REDUCE system for modern use
• Building historical REDUCE in current environments
• Exploring early REDUCE's computational capabilities

Innovation

• Historical REDUCE system reconstruction
• Runs in modest modern environments
• Demonstrates early 1970s capabilities