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Math Overflow (A StackExchange site for Maths)

60 points by swaroop 17y ago

(via http://www.readwriteweb.com/readwritestart/2009/10/stackoverflow-shares-its-mojo.php)

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
chrisbolt 17y ago
Here's an idea: filterable categories for StackExchange, instead of a new site every week.
- MicahWedemeyer 17y ago
  Allowing new sites with individual branding is how they make their $$
kurtosis 17y ago
This is great but I must know: does stackexchange allow automatic rendering of latex formulas like wordpress? If not then I think this one is going to have a hard time taking off.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
- swaroop 17y ago
  From http://sbseminar.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/math-overflow/ http://sbseminar.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/math-overflow/ : > There’s currently no LaTeX support. Obviously, this is the top-priority feature. This definitely won’t be implemented until the Stack Exchange software is out of beta, but it will probably be implemented shortly thereafter. In the meantime, do your best. You’re welcome to type raw LaTeX, use basic html (e.g. Ω and x<sub>1</sub>), or whatever you would normally write in email.
- swaroop 17y ago
  Update: They have turned on jsMath, so formulas are now available, see http://mathoverflow.net/questions/16/how-do-i-typeset-mathematics-on-mathoverflow-net/17#17 http://mathoverflow.net/questions/16/how-do-i-typeset-mathem...
invisible 17y ago
The odd thing is that they are paying for beta software (I assume) that has features that link to incomplete pages. I don't get how that's acceptable to a paying customer honestly. See: http://mathoverflow.net/issues http://mathoverflow.net/issues Beyond that, this Math site is an awesome concept and exactly why they made Stack Exchange.
- spolsky 17y ago
  stackexchange is free during beta.
mitko 17y ago
For comparison with your competition look at http://www.mathlinks.ro/ http://www.mathlinks.ro/ http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/ http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/ (both sites point to the same forum) They support LaTeX rendering and are already quite well known. I wish you success. It will be cool to have something like HackerNews for math only.
- vlad 17y ago
  That second link looks totally awesome; thanks!
- carterschonwald 17y ago
  I'm inclined to think mathoverflow will be more researchy in character than these other sites, which have a math competition tilt. (which means mathoverflow has won me over) Also, there are some pretty high powered math problem solvers who are active on math overflow, eg reid barton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_W._Barton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_W._Barton (one of the top performers in the history of the putnam among other things)
whye 17y ago
This is a very neat idea, but the lack of support for latex, or any other way to create mathematical expressions is a bit of a letdown.
- brg 17y ago
  MathML is coming in webkit. It shouldn't be long before most browsers have support for that spec.
- mr_dbr 17y ago
  http://stackoverflow.com/questions/516406/latex-equivalent-to-google-chart-api http://stackoverflow.com/questions/516406/latex-equivalent-t... lists a bunch of possible options that would be rather trivial to integrate (either a modified version of Markdown, or the editor)
jackowayed 17y ago
What is one's motivation to start a stackexchange site? Sure, you want to make the obscure community you like better, but $130/mo is kind of a lot. Is there any reasonable way to recoup the money?
- phsr 17y ago
  I've emailed FogCreek about this a few days ago, and they stated that Stack Exchange is geared towards corporations currently, but they have been getting a lot of emails about offering a lower cost versions for a more hobby centered site (think photography). They do allow for custom HTML to be added into parts of the site, so you could add ads to generate some revenue. It's also worth noting that Stack Exchange is free during the beta period (because they haven't implemented the code for fees, Joel had stated that in one of the Stack Overflow podcasts)
  - Quiark 17y ago
    * They do allow for custom HTML to be added into parts of the site* But I suppose adding your own ads will be supported when it's out of beta? Otherwise paying the price and having no way to generate revenue seems a little useless...
brg 17y ago
Visiting for the first time I was sure to see more high school geometry and first year calculus questions. I am delighted to see a much deeper discussion taking place.

60 points by swaroop 17y ago

(via http://www.readwriteweb.com/readwritestart/2009/10/stackoverflow-shares-its-mojo.php)

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]

chrisbolt 17y ago

Here's an idea: filterable categories for StackExchange, instead of a new site every week.

MicahWedemeyer 17y ago
Allowing new sites with individual branding is how they make their $$

kurtosis 17y ago

This is great but I must know: does stackexchange allow automatic rendering of latex formulas like wordpress? If not then I think this one is going to have a hard time taking off.

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
swaroop 17y ago
From http://sbseminar.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/math-overflow/ http://sbseminar.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/math-overflow/ : > There’s currently no LaTeX support. Obviously, this is the top-priority feature. This definitely won’t be implemented until the Stack Exchange software is out of beta, but it will probably be implemented shortly thereafter. In the meantime, do your best. You’re welcome to type raw LaTeX, use basic html (e.g. Ω and x<sub>1</sub>), or whatever you would normally write in email.
swaroop 17y ago
Update: They have turned on jsMath, so formulas are now available, see http://mathoverflow.net/questions/16/how-do-i-typeset-mathematics-on-mathoverflow-net/17#17 http://mathoverflow.net/questions/16/how-do-i-typeset-mathem...

invisible 17y ago

The odd thing is that they are paying for beta software (I assume) that has features that link to incomplete pages. I don't get how that's acceptable to a paying customer honestly. See: http://mathoverflow.net/issues http://mathoverflow.net/issues Beyond that, this Math site is an awesome concept and exactly why they made Stack Exchange.

spolsky 17y ago
stackexchange is free during beta.

mitko 17y ago

For comparison with your competition look at http://www.mathlinks.ro/ http://www.mathlinks.ro/ http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/ http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/ (both sites point to the same forum) They support LaTeX rendering and are already quite well known. I wish you success. It will be cool to have something like HackerNews for math only.

vlad 17y ago
That second link looks totally awesome; thanks!
carterschonwald 17y ago
I'm inclined to think mathoverflow will be more researchy in character than these other sites, which have a math competition tilt. (which means mathoverflow has won me over) Also, there are some pretty high powered math problem solvers who are active on math overflow, eg reid barton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_W._Barton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_W._Barton (one of the top performers in the history of the putnam among other things)

whye 17y ago

This is a very neat idea, but the lack of support for latex, or any other way to create mathematical expressions is a bit of a letdown.

brg 17y ago
MathML is coming in webkit. It shouldn't be long before most browsers have support for that spec.
mr_dbr 17y ago
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/516406/latex-equivalent-to-google-chart-api http://stackoverflow.com/questions/516406/latex-equivalent-t... lists a bunch of possible options that would be rather trivial to integrate (either a modified version of Markdown, or the editor)

jackowayed 17y ago

What is one's motivation to start a stackexchange site? Sure, you want to make the obscure community you like better, but $130/mo is kind of a lot. Is there any reasonable way to recoup the money?

phsr 17y ago
I've emailed FogCreek about this a few days ago, and they stated that Stack Exchange is geared towards corporations currently, but they have been getting a lot of emails about offering a lower cost versions for a more hobby centered site (think photography). They do allow for custom HTML to be added into parts of the site, so you could add ads to generate some revenue. It's also worth noting that Stack Exchange is free during the beta period (because they haven't implemented the code for fees, Joel had stated that in one of the Stack Overflow podcasts)
- Quiark 17y ago
  * They do allow for custom HTML to be added into parts of the site* But I suppose adding your own ads will be supported when it's out of beta? Otherwise paying the price and having no way to generate revenue seems a little useless...

brg 17y ago

Visiting for the first time I was sure to see more high school geometry and first year calculus questions. I am delighted to see a much deeper discussion taking place.