Re: fortran 2003 compiler

On Feb 26, 12:47 am, "Alinabi" <alexander.the.aver...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Thank you for the detailed answer. It was my impression that fortran
2003 was the unicorn of programing languages, but I was really hoping
to be wrong.


The worst part is that "Compiler Companies" don't have any public
roadmap/timeframe for implementation of the ISO standard. This always
surprises me why compiler companies don't announce a public
timeframe / roadmap for the implementation of an international
standard (which they had participated in its design process). In most
other industries announcing a public roadmap/timeframe for
implementing a newly accepted "International Standard" is of a major
importance.

This lack of public commitment makes the things complicated: When you
write a development/implementation plan, you don't know whether to
design your software using "a special feature of Fortran 2003 which is
an ISO standard or not?" Because you don't know whether it will be
implemented in 2007, 2008 or 2009. The responses from compiler makers
are generally very ambiguous: "fill a feature request form " or "it
depends on the other costumers" or " we cannot answer you because it
is commercially protected information ..." etc. Well, If I write an
implementation plan I am not willing to contact all compiler companies
and ask them "excuse me can you let me know whether polymorphic types
(as an example) will be implemented in 2007 or 2008"

I believe compiler companies didn't catch the importance of an "ISO"
standard. It is as important as the meaning of "a kilogram" or "being
conform to ISO 9001". It is, among others, an essential part of a
universal threshold for deployment of the software Quality/Assurance
framework. IMO a compiler company should commit publicly (with a
reasonable timeframe) to the implementation of an international set of
standards, which means public commitment to the providing one of
necessary instruments for deployment of software QA framework.

I am certain that "industrial costumers" would appreciate to do
business with a company, which has "a clear public timeframe/roadmap
for the implementation of the ISO standard". From the costumer
perspective, this would gives the necessary flexibility to prepare
much better feasibility study, cost estimate, and development /
implementation plans.


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