I used Maxima for creating statistical models of hardware failure at work a while back. I’d take the statistical models, use Maxima to symbolically find equati

I used Maxima for creating statistical models of hardware failure at work a while back. I’d take the statistical models, use Maxima to symbolically find equations for estimators, and then write out the formulas in Python using NumPy / SciPy to solve the equations numerically. Without Maxima, the whole process would have involved more error-prone, tedious work on my part. I like to pitch the model by saying it successfully predicted a data loss event before it happened, predicted where that data loss event would happen (which configuration would lose data), and gave us insight into how the system could be changed to prevent similar data loss events from happening. Maxima was a key tool in making the model.