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What is FEniCS, DOLFIN?

+1 vote

I don't mean what do FEniCS and DOLFIN do, I mean what do the names mean?

Presumably FE and FIN refer to "finite element", but why "CS" and "DOL"?

The FEniCS Book and the online documentation don't give the history behind the name of the project.

asked Jul 20, 2015 by dparsons FEniCS Novice (490 points)

"Dynamic Object-oriented Library for FINite element computation" - that works.

I like the reference to University of Chicago's phoenix mascot. And the comment that it "symbolizes the rising of a new code out of the ashes of many previously failed software projects." :)

Thanks all!

commented Jul 22, 2015 by dparsons FEniCS Novice (490 points)

1 Answer

+2 votes

Here is where the name FEniCS comes from.

https://answers.launchpad.net/fenics/+question/204935

"FE is Finite Element(s)

CS is Computational Science, Computer Science or Computational Software

ni sits nicely in the middle"

Anders Logg

I don't know where the tern DOLFIN comes from

Looks to me like not everything in the titles have a meaning.

answered Jul 20, 2015 by aldenpack FEniCS User (1,450 points)
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