Installing Xcas on an Asus EEE PC

This page describes how to install Xcas on a EEE PC. For 200 to 300 euros, you get a symbolic graphical calculator much more powerful than "regular" calculators from TI, HP or Casio. The easiest way is to install the debian package. You can also install the xcas_root.tgz archive

Installing the debian package

If you have net access on the eee pc, click on Internet->Web, then xcas asus on Google to go to this page, then retrieve the debian package here, Firefox will by default launch the software installer. After a long time (the eee pc tests for compatibility), the software installer will ask for installing, then you will be asked for a launcher, click on /usr/bin/xcas, then select a target where a Computer Algebra System icon will be created like Work or Learn->Maths. The autosave feature will not work there, because the launcher will run xcas from / where user has no right to write. You can bypass this by pressing Ctrl-Alt-T then
export XCAS_AUTOSAVE_FOLDER=/tmp && xcas &
If you do not have net access on the eee pc, first download the debian package here, and store it on a USB key or SD card, put the card or key in the eee pc, the Filer should open.
- On newer asus, open the software installer, select Work or Learn->Maths, then Install from a file, then Add, select Files of type *deb (debian Modules), click on the key or card icon and select the giac debian package, when asked for a launcher, click on /usr/bin/xcas. The autosave feature will not work, you can bypass this by running Xcas from a Terminal: Ctrl-Alt-T then
  export XCAS_AUTOSAVE_FOLDER=/tmp && xcas &
- On older asus, right-click on the debian package from the File Manager, selecting Install debian package. You will have to run Xcas from a Terminal: Ctrl-Alt-T then
  export XCAS_AUTOSAVE_FOLDER=/tmp && xcas &

Other useful installations

For vpnc access, download vpnc_ujf_asus.tgz and unarchive it from /. You will have to modify /etc/vpnc/ujf.conf and /etc/apt/apt.conf for your network.
Download icewm.tgz in /home/user, and type
cd && tar xvfz icewm.tgz
This will add a terminal launcher and an xcas icon.
Type
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ssh emacs r-base xdvi tetex-extra tetex-doc gv gcc g++ gdb flex bison make autoconf automake xpdf
to install a few useful math and development softwares.
For more info, see for example this wiki.

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Installing xcas_root.tgz

If you have net access on the eee pc
- Open firefox, download xcas_root and save it for example in /home/user.
- Type Ctrl-Alt-T, this should open a Unix terminal.
- Type
  cd /
  sudo tar xvfz /home/user/xcas_root.tgz
If you do not have net access on the eee pc
- Download xcas_root and save it on a USB key or SD card.
- Put the key or SD card in the eee pc. The file manager should open.
- Type Ctrl-Alt-T, this should open a Unix terminal
- Type
  mount
  You should see a line with the path to the key, for example /dev/sdc1 on /media/D: type ...
- Type
  cd /
  sudo tar xvfz /media/D\:/xcas_root.tgz
  replace if necessary /media/D\: by the path to your key or SD card.

Xcas is now installed, you can run it from a Unix terminal by typing the command
xcas &
Note that autosave will be done in the folder where you run Xcas, and that might not be a good idea on a SSD. You can override the autosave directory using the command
export XCAS_AUTOSAVE_FOLDER=/tmp && xcas &
You can modify the window manager to be able to run xcas in one click, see below.

Running Xcas in one click

Open a terminal (Ctrl Alt T)
Type
cd
mkdir .icewm
cp /etc/X11/icewm/* .icewm
cd .icewm
kwrite toolbar
Add at the end of the file
prog Xcas xcas xcasnew
and save it (File->save menu of kwrite).
At your next login, a xcas text area will appear at the left bottom, click there to launch Xcas.

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