The MathOverflow question Open source mathematical software contains a list of programs that are useful to perform various computational tasks, such as computer algebra systems.
However, evaluating complicated formulas is not all that a professional mathematician needs to do. For instance, another important part of it is communicating results, producing papers and slides. There was a Mathoverflow question devoted specifically to
tools for collaborative paper writing.
It would be useful to identify and gather on MO a list of areas of activities where research mathematicians can use software as part of their professional activity.
I think it would also be useful to gather on MO a list of software that does not strictly do computations, but is nevertheless useful to those who research and teach mathematics.
The first example that springs to mind is of course $\LaTeX$, but there is much more:
- citation and literature management software, such as Jabref, Zotero, Mendeley
- conference management software, such as Open Conference Systems (never actually used it, but it seems interesting)
- reference tools such as the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences and Plouffe's Inverter
- Euclidean geometry software such as Geogebra
- diff'ing and merging tools, such as latexdiff, kdiff3
- specific LaTeX packages such as Beamer for presentations or several drawing packages (TikZ, Eukleides).
I find some of those real gems, and I'd like to find out more examples. So, the question is:
Can you provide (other) examples of programs that are useful to professional mathematicians in their job, while not being strictly speaking "software that does complicated computations"?
The question is a little broad and perhaps if there is much software relevant to a specific activity it will be wise to ask, based on input given to the question, a more specific question. Also please do not interpret this question too broadly (see discussion below).
Also check these MO questions: Tools for collaborative paper-writing (mainly regarding revision control software), Most helpful math resources on the web (mainly regarding online databases of something).
Best Answer
This is my short list of math related software not used for computing. I made an effort to list software in descending order with respect to the frequency of use. I left out $\TeX$ and my version control system of choice CVS since OP was not interested in those.
A good editor. My choice goes to nvi.
A spell checker like ispell.
Regular expressions for pattern matching/search.
Make utility.
I do not know about you guys but for us who must teach and manage grade books nothing comes close to being as useful as awk.
A good file synchronizer like Unison.
Shell script(sh).
sed.
An e-mail client like mailx.
PostScript language as a page description language for printing but also a tool for teaching geometry classes. Obviously you must have PostScript interpreter on your computer like GhostScript (comes with a viewer) and a good PS manipulation tool like psutils.
A tool for manipulation of PDF files. I like Pdftk.
Python as a glue language and for instance its library Matplotlib for making illustrations.
A good image processing tool like Graphics Magic.
Vectorial drawing program as Xfig.