Fortran Version Question Apr. 8, 2009

FORTRAN VERSION QUESTION
Posted by E.D.G. April 8, 2009

SUMMARY: Information is being sought regarding versatile, free download Fortran compilers

An effort is being made to get researchers around the world better organized for working on important scientific projects. One of the steps in the effort involves getting procedures established that would enable them to use different language computer programs to work on the same project.

With one of those scientific projects that is already running I myself am using the Perl programming language. Other people prefer other languages. And an effort is being made to find a versatile, free download version of Fortran for people who prefer to use Fortran.

Any recommendations?

One of the researchers has been checking FTN95 Fortran for Windows available from Silverfrost.

http://www.silverfrost.com/

Can anyone comment on that program versus other versions of Fortran?

The following are some of the features that are important for all of the computer programs being considered with this effort:

--- A free download.

--- A compiler usage type program rather than one that reads and interprets a single line of code at a time.

--- The ability to produce a compiled exe type of program that will run on its own.

--- The ability to accept input using a standard type input command involving pressing the Enter key after typing in the data, and the ability to check for keyboard key presses with something like a GetKey command.

--- The ability to be running and waiting for input or in a timed sleep mode without tying up all of the computer processor time.

--- The ability to direct other programs to start running using something like a "system" or "shell" command.

--- The ability to establish two direction data and command "pipes" to other computer programs that are running at the same time.

--- The ability to be used by people who are not professional computer programmers.

I myself would consider Perl to be on the borderline regarding that. It was difficult for me to learn how to use. And I still have problems with it after years of use. FTN95 looks like it is probably easier for people, such as myself, to use who are not professional programmers.

One advantage that Perl does have is the fact that it has at least two of its own Internet Newsgroups. FTN95 appears to have some bulletin boards associated with. And I expect that they would probably work as well as a Newsgroup.


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Relevant Pages

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