# Softi

> early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis

**Wikidata**: [Q108929297](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108929297)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/softi

## Summary
Softi is an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis developed by Italian computer scientist Antonina Starita in 1968. It was designed specifically for the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana platform and consisted of at least four versions released within a two-month period.

## Key Facts
- Softi is classified as an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis
- It was developed by Antonina Starita (1939-2008), an Italian computer scientist and physicist
- The software ran on the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana platform
- Version 2 was released on 1968-02-12, Version 3 on 1968-03-05, and Version 4 on 1968-04-03
- Softi has a software hash ID: swh:1:rev:092a927d8ed365ed600dd4e96932437731749bbb
- Source code files are available on Wikimedia Commons
- It is classified as software (instance_of: software)

## FAQs
### Q: What is Softi?
A: Softi is an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis created by Italian computer scientist Antonina Starita in 1968. It was designed specifically for the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana platform and served as an educational tool for numerical computation.

### Q: Who created Softi?
A: Softi was created by Antonina Starita (1939-2008), an Italian computer scientist and physicist. She was one of the prominent female computer scientists of her time, contributing to early computational mathematics and software development.

### Q: When was Softi developed?
A: Softi was developed in 1968, with four distinct versions released between February and April of that year. Version 2 was released on February 12, Version 3 on March 5, and Version 4 on April 3.

### Q: What was the purpose of Softi?
A: Softi served as an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis, likely for educational and research purposes in computational mathematics. It demonstrates early approaches to numerical computation on the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana platform.

## Why It Matters
Softi represents a significant piece of early computing history from a period when numerical analysis was a developing field. As one of the few software projects developed by Antonina Starita, a pioneering female computer scientist, it offers valuable insights into both the technical aspects of early numerical programming and the contributions of women in computing during a male-dominated era. The fact that multiple versions were developed within such a short timeframe suggests an iterative approach to refining numerical algorithms, which may have influenced later computational mathematics practices. Today, the preservation of its source code on platforms like Wikimedia Commons provides researchers and historians with concrete examples of early programming methodologies and computational thinking from the late 1960s, bridging the gap between historical computing practices and modern software development.

## Notable For
- Early programming exercise in numerical analysis from 1968, showcasing computational approaches from a formative period in computing history
- Developed by Antonina Starita, one of the prominent female computer scientists of her time, making it historically significant for women in computing
- Multiple versions (2, 3, and 4) released within just two months (February to April 1968), indicating an iterative development process
- Source code preserved and available on Wikimedia Commons, providing valuable historical documentation of early programming practices
- Created specifically for the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana platform, offering insights into specialized computing environments of the era

## Body
### Overview
Softi is an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis that was developed by Antonina Starita in 1968. It is classified as software and represents an educational or research tool focused on computational mathematics.

### Development History
- Created by Antonina Starita (1939-2008), an Italian computer scientist and physicist
- Developed for the Calcolatrice Elettronica Pisana computing platform
- Consisted of at least four distinct versions released in rapid succession

### Version Information
- Version 2: Released on 1968-02-12
- Version 3: Released on 1968-03-05
- Version 4: Released on 1968-04-03
- Each version is documented with specific release dates indicating rapid development cycles

### Technical Details
- Software hash ID: swh:1:rev:092a927d8ed365ed600dd4e96932437731749bbb
- Classified under "Softi source code" in Wikimedia Commons categories
- Source code and documentation files available on Wikimedia Commons
- Includes execution traces and documentation files from the 1968 releases

### Historical Significance
As an early programming exercise in Numerical Analysis, Softi provides insight into computational mathematics practices during the late 1960s. Its development by Antonina Starita adds to the historical record of women's contributions to computing during a period when the field was predominantly male. The preservation of its source code allows for study of early programming methodologies and approaches to numerical computation.

## References

1. [Source](https://archive.softwareheritage.org/browse/directory/0c08d069c5dd4b85cfac797f5f2a512ba38ec18d/?origin_url=https://github.com/Unipisa/Softi-Workbench&revision=ec5c3d80c580952fa8723bc9e5e18ccdd3afb393&snapshot=f0bdf76d4a373c35af5ee97ffc6cfe09aced65fc)
2. [Source](https://archive.softwareheritage.org/browse/directory/8340aba90ee2ac02eec9d5854904d53f74c73050/?origin_url=https://github.com/Unipisa/Softi-Workbench&revision=ec690bd1baa178aa9b72730284009af5bbed211b&snapshot=f0bdf76d4a373c35af5ee97ffc6cfe09aced65fc)
3. [Source](https://archive.softwareheritage.org/browse/directory/14c89ab8cc01b36ba660d11853a3024cd8767fce/?origin_url=https://github.com/Unipisa/Softi-Workbench&revision=56cac0e4fd60675ba54bed2f82be9e8460dca091&snapshot=f0bdf76d4a373c35af5ee97ffc6cfe09aced65fc)