The engineering programs are dependent upon Java 1.4 as they use XML parsers on the files containing their data.

The poetry generator should work with any version of Java above version 1.2. The poetry generator was a project for a class on Markov chains and shows how a computer can generate fairly decent poetry using Markov chains.

To run these programs, you need a version of the Java Runtime Environment. Of course, modern operating systems (Mac OS X/Windows XP but excluding Linux/BSD) ship with Java 1.4. It can be downloaded for Linux/BSD also.

Once you have Java, you just need to double click the downloaded file to run it. Naturally, on some Windows configurations (or if you use Linux), this may not work. Then you need to open a terminal window, type "java -jar FILE_PATH" and it will run.

• "Yield Loss in Serial Production"

  "Yield Loss in Serial Production" is a Java application that allows the user to input a fixed number of processes, the times and yields for each of these processes, and then calculates the total lost time due to imperfect yields. The user also inputs a possible yield increase and the program shows which process this yield increase should be applied to to ensure the smallest possible lost time results.

  Click the link above to download "Yield Loss in Serial Production".

• Empty Link to Monte-Carlo Simulation - READY BUT NOT UPLOADED!

  Despite the title, this program does not help one in casinos. However, it does tell one whether one should invest in a given project. One enters the project's initial cost, duration, cash inflows and outflows, salvage value, marr, possible tax rates, and depreciation type. The program uses this data to generate the NPV and IRR of the project. The initial cost, cash inflow and outflow, salvage value, and marr can be normal, uniform, or exponential random variables. The duration and tax rate are discrete random variable. Deprication can be straight-line, SOYD, or none.

• "Poetry Generator"

  "Poetry Generator" is a Java application that generates poetry. The poetry itself is generated using Markov chains. Sometimes the generated poetry is actually pretty good, sometimes it is not. But can humans do any better? Certainly there are great poets, but even great poets sometimes create good poetry and sometimes they don't.

  Click the link above to download "Poetry Generator".