[RFC] Integrating High-precision arithmetic into Octave Core ?

[CdeMills]

Hello,

One of the topic proposed for GSOC2014 is to have a fully fonctionnal
support for High Precision Arithmetic [1] computations in Octave. The
proposal comes from Georgios Ouzounis and I propose myself as mentor.

Basically, it is a layer over GNU MPFR, which is itself a C library. So far,
two strategies have been defined:
1) use the extension mechanisms of Octave to construct something outside
core, most of the code being written in C++. 
2) define a new basic type in libinterp, and do a bottom-up approach to
ensure upper layers handle transparently this new type.

Strategy 1 implies the development of a toolbox living its own life.
Strategy 2 implies changes to Octave core, and a new "configure" option. The
external toolbox already exists on OctaveForge. The second strategy implies
to create a new branch on the main repository, with the goal to merge it at
the end of the GSOC period.

In order to take fix the framework before the start of the coding period, I
ask your advice: is there sufficient interest/value to Octave in having this
new type targeted as becoming a basic type ?  If yes, who could give advice
and guidance over integrating this new type in libinterp ?

Regards

Pascal

[1]
https://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/proposal/review/org/google/gsoc2014/gouzouni/5629499534213120



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