An example of a domain-specific repository is the Netlib mathematical software repository, which has been in existence since 1985 [&make_named_href('', "node19.html#Dongarra-netlib","[2]")]. Netlib differs from other publicly available software distribution systems, such as Archie, in that the collection is moderated by an editorial board and the software contained in it is widely recognized to be of high quality. Netlib distributes freely-available numerical libraries such as EISPACK, LINPACK, FFTPACK, and LAPACK that have long been used as important tools in scientific computation. The Netlib collection also includes a large number of newer, less well-established codes. Software is available in all the major numerical analysis areas, including linear algebra, nonlinear equations, optimization, approximation, and differential equations. Most of the software is written in Fortran, but programs in other languages, such as C and C++, are also available. Netlib uses the Guide to Available Mathematical Software (GAMS) classification system [&make_named_href('', "node19.html#Boisvert-GAMS-toms","[3]")] to help users quickly locate software that meets their needs.
A branch of Netlib specialized to high performance computing, called HPC-netlib, is currently under development. HPC-netlib will provide access to algorithms and software for both shared memory and distributed memory machines, as well as to information about performance of parallel numerical software on different architectures.