FisicaLab 0.4.0 is out!

After many years FisicaLab 0.4.0 is available. Comes with a new module for thermodynamics and a bug fixed in chalkboard. Most changes are internal, a reorganization of different solvers that will make easy, in future versions, save and load physics problems from a file. Due to a bug in GNUstep with Tool Tips, now there is an alternative interface based on IUP. Tool Tips are used in FisicaLab to show information of each element at chalkboard. For the moment there ins´t binary packages. But maybe later.

New release of FisicaLab for Windows

Due to some problems reported by Windows users, I decide to release a new Windows installer of FisicaLab with the alternative interface using IUP. This version is the number 0.3.5.1 and you can download it here. I will add some new features before release the version 0.4.0. If you have some problem with this new installer please write me.

Alternative interface for FisicaLab

Due to some problems with gnustep libraries in recent Gnome desktops, I decide to provide an alternative interface for FisicaLab based in IUP toolkit. The gnustep interface still will be available, but if the users have problems with it, they will be able to switch the interface.

More than two years from the last release, I hope have a new release to the end of the year or first months of 2018. Here an screenshot of this new interface:

Progress report from FísicaLab project

Many changes has been done internally to facilitate the aggregation of new modules. But at UI has been some changes too. One of them is at the contextual menu of conversion factors. Now the menu only display the conversion factors available for the selected field.

Also I’m working to add menu options to save/load problems. This will avoid add all the elements and data again, when you are working on one problem.

The Thermodynamics module is taking shape now. I take time to think how to organize the elements, since in thermodynamics there are equations for specific cases. For example, to calculate the work in different process of an ideal gas. But I did not want to add an element for each case. Which would have added a lot of elements. So I simply decided ignore some fields for specific cases. For example, the temperature data for an isothermal process. The image below show the solution of a problem of this case (isothermal).

I have no idea when might be ready the next version. But you can be sure that FísicaLab is in continuous development.

Remember that FísicaLab is a free software project, and needs your support to continue its development. So to donate or help in other ways (translations or help to publicize the project) visit the official website of GNU FísicaLab.

New design of FisicaLab website

Well, I had to learn HTML and CSS to make a more nice website for FisicaLab. This is not a big work but I think in these days is important have an attractive website. So I hope you like 🙂

Updated the source tarballs of FisicaLab

Due to a reported problem with the configure script, I updated the source tarball of FisicaLab, included the Mac package. Now the current package is numbered 0.3.5-1. Sorry for the inconveniences.

GNU FisicaLab 0.3.5

I’m glad to announce the release of version 0.3.5 of GNU FisicaLab, this is a feature release. FisicaLab (can be pronounced as PhysicsLab) is an educational application to solve physics problems. Its main objective is let the user to focus in physics concepts, leaving aside the mathematical details

In this version I added a module to handle tables of properties, for the moment this only handle properties for water, but is the base for future modules of thermodynamics and fluids. This took more time that I thought, but now is ready. So now there is a new entry at menu that launch a window where you can calculate the properties of water (saturated, compressed and superheated). I also fix some bugs:

• Correction of a bug in the module dynamics of points, due to a bad set of equations. This causes that some problems can be solved with some parameters, but not with others.
• Fixed two problems with the contextual menu of conversions.
• Minor changes for compatibility with Windows platform. So now FisicaLab have the same behavior on this platform.

This new version is also available as a binary package for GNU/Linux i686 and for GNU/Linux x86_64. There is also a self contained installer for Windows and a source tarball for Mac OS X. I didn’t tested this package since I don’t have a Mac. But in theory should work.

Remember that the documentation is now on line. And in addition I added some videos here. For the moment these are available only in English. And, beforehand, apologies if you don’t understand my English 🙂

I also want to thank the people who have donated to the project. In this version the first time you launch FisicaLab it will display a window with a brief description of FisicaLab where we encourage you to donate to the project.

So enjoy FisicaLab and if you have feedback or find bugs, use the corresponding mailing lists.

FisicaLab update

Well, I just want to share the progress in the development of FisicaLab. As you know I want a module for thermodynamics in version 0.4.0. This means that FisicaLab needs the ability to handle data from steam tables. However, find the data in an easy format (an spreadsheet for example) was not possible. I found PDF format, which is not easy to translate to a spreadsheet, or Excel programs only for Windows and payed. Anyway after some hard work, I have the steam tables for water into FisicaLab. The new class “TablesManager” is the responsible to get the data from these tables. To test this class I added a “Properties” window that lets calculate the properties after enter some data. For the moment only the saturation data are available. But I will add the ability to get “compressed/superheated” data at next days. Of course, not only water will be available. Here an screenshot of this new window, that will be available under the new item menu “Tools”:

Remember FisicaLab is free software and that you can support its development with a donation in PayPal, Flattr or Gratipay.

FisicaLab’s documentation now online

The documentation of FisicaLab is now online. Needs improvements and corrections (someone told me that in English “points” is used instead “particles”). But now is more easy to learn how to use FisicaLab. Is also available in Spanish.

Last day of FisicaLab’s funding campaign!

Last day of funding campaign. So don’t hesitate and make a donation today! Help to liberate schools and students from the dependency of privative software. Remember you can also support FisicaLab through Flattr.