Netlib

Netlib is a long-standing online repository of numerical software, papers, and documentation for scientific computing. Established to facilitate the sharing of algorithms and portable code among researchers and institutions, Netlib serves as a central archive and distribution point for numerical routines and related literature. The project is hosted at netlib.org and is maintained by a community of volunteers and collaborating institutions involved in numerical analysis and high-performance computing.

The collection covers a wide range of topics in numerical methods, linear algebra, and scientific computing. It includes widely used libraries such as LINPACK and EISPACK for linear systems and eigenvalue problems, the Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS), and LAPACK for linear algebra computations. Additional packages frequently found in Netlib encompass FFTPACK for fast Fourier transforms, MINPACK for nonlinear equations, QUADPACK for numerical integration, ODEPACK for ordinary differential equations, and numerous specialized routines and documentation.

Access to Netlib is primarily via the web interface at netlib.org, with historical support for FTP as well. The software in the repository is written largely in Fortran and C, reflecting its origins in mid-to-late 20th-century scientific computing. Licenses vary by package, with many items released for academic or public-domain use, and others under more restrictive terms; users typically download and adapt the code for research and education.

Netlib has played a pivotal role in disseminating foundational numerical software prior to modern package managers and repositories. It remains a valuable archival resource and reference point for historical and legacy numerical routines in the field.