Xnetlib's predecessor, netlib, grew from a need to have a quick and easy method for distributing small pieces of mathematical software. Netlib services began in 1985 at two sites, Argonne National Laboratory and AT& Bell Laboratories, and distributed software from about 30 libraries. For additional information about netlib's operation and use see the introductory paper by Dongarra and Grosse [4].
One of the changes since netlib's introduction has been the transfer
of netlib services from Argonne National Laboratory to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Also, the availability on
netlib of the netlib program itself has enabled many other
sites to set up their own
software repositories.
The netlib software collection has now grown
to over 150 libraries. The number of software requests sent to
netlib also has grown dramatically. The most heavily used
netlib server, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, processed over 147,000 requests
in 1993.
Xnetlib use has grown even more rapidly. In 1993, its third year of operation, xnetlib processed over 233,000 requests.