Visual Numerics Releases IMSL CNL Version 2.5; C Application Developers Can Now Leverage SMP Technology

Business Wire, August 10, 1998

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 1998--Visual Numerics, Inc., an industry-leading developer of computational, visualization and Internet software solutions, today introduced Version 2.5 of its IMSL(R) C Numerical Libraries (CNL).

Written in C for C programmers, the IMSL C Numerical Libraries are comprehensive mathematical and statistical functions built upon the most widely used routines in the IMSL FORTRAN Libraries, and are the recognized standard for mathematical and statistical C Libraries. IMSL CNL Version 2.5 is the first commercially available software to deliver the benefits of symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) technology to C application developers. Additionally, Version 2.5 includes updates to key mathematical and statistical functions that improve computational results and reduce application development time by as much as 95%.

According to Tim Leite, director, computational technologies, at Visual Numerics, "SMP is one of the most significant capabilities of today's workstations and personal computers. By taking advantage of the hardware's capability to run multiple tasks, users can greatly increase their computational throughput automatically when using CNL."

SMP technology is a powerful processing capability built into today's leading personal computers and workstations. Symmetric multiprocessing enables users to break a program into separate tasks and run multiple tasks simultaneously, vastly improving the throughput of large computational applications such as solutions to linear systems or fast Fourier transforms. IMSL CNL is the only commercially available software that enables C programmers to leverage the power of SMP in their programs, allowing them to achieve significant performance improvements as problem size and the number of processors increase. Benchmark programs demonstrated a 3X-performance increase when solving a 2000 x 2000 linear system on a Compaq Workstation just by increasing the number of processors during execution from one to four.

In addition to bringing SMP capabilities to users, IMSL CNL 2.5 delivers performance enhancements that improve computational efficiency in the areas of memory management and array processing. The software helps C development programmers reduce execution times and improve performance by efficiently utilizing the cache memory through the use of dynamic workspace and array manipulation.

IMSL CNL 2.5 also includes functionality improvements in the following areas:

Statistics

Probability distribution functions and inverses

Multivariate linear regression Random number generation Survival analysis

Fourier Transforms

Real and complex one-dimensional fast Fourier transforms Complex two-dimensional fast Fourier transforms

Linear Systems Sparse linear solvers General linear solvers

Positive definite linear solvers

Interpolation and Approximation Radial basis approximation and fit evaluation

Optimization Nonlinear programming

Nonlinear least squares with and without bounds

Linearly constrained minimization Unconstrained multivariate minimization

Miscellaneous Error processing Version information License manager

"Combining the performance and functional improvements of Version 2.5 with the longtime accuracy, reliability and robustness found in the IMSL mathematics and statistics provides an excellent solution for the C application developer," concludes Leite.

IMSL CNL 2.5 is currently available on a variety of platforms including Digital(TM) UNIX, HP(R)-UX, IBM(R) AIX, Sun Solaris(R), SunOS(R) and Microsoft Windows(R) NT/95.

Visual Numerics is a privately held company with headquarters in Houston, Texas and offices in Colorado, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Korea and the United Kingdom, in addition to an extensive worldwide distributor network. Founded in 1970 as IMSL, Inc., Visual Numerics was formed in 1992 as a result of the merger between Houston-based IMSL and Boulder, Colorado-based Precision Visuals. For more information about the company and its products, call 800-364-8880 or visit the company's Website at www.vni.com.

IMSL is a registered trademark of Visual Numerics. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    CONTACT:  Visual Numerics, Inc.
               Diana Booth, 303/245-5377
               booth@boulder.vni.com
                        or
               Visual Numerics, Inc.
               Mr. Tim Leite, 713/954-6483
               leite@houston.vni.com
               www.vni.com