Released in 1957, Fortran is believed to be the oldest high-level programming language that is still widely in use today. Fortran is the focus of this category.
FORTRAN was an acronym for FOrmula TRANslation system, although it is no longer expressed in all-caps.
Work began on the language in late 1953, when John Backus submitted a proposal to his superiors at IBM to develop an alternative to assembly language. The chief aim of the general-purpose programming language was to make the computation of things in the fields of engineering and mathematics easier and more efficient.
A manual for the new language was published in the fall of 1956, and the first Fortran compiler was delivered in April of 1957. It was the first optimized compiler.
Although a journal article in 1968 described Fortran as old-fashioned, it has been in use for more than a half a century now, and it still produces a large body of software. Fortran is the primary language for super-computing tasks, used for such purposes as mathematics, engineering, statistics, and scientific computation.
Languages and extensions based on Fortran include FLECS, Iftran, MORTRAN, Ratfiv, Ratfor, SFtran, and S-Fortran. WATFOR is a version of Fortran that was distributed by the University of Waterloo in the 1960s. A variant of WATFOR is WATFIV. Major implementations of FORTRAN include Absoft, GFortran, G95, IBM XL Fortran, Intel Fortran, Hitachi Fortran, Lahey/Fujitsu Fortran, Numerical Algorithms Group, Open Watcom, PathScale, PGI, Silverfrost, Oracle Solaris Studio, and Visual Fortran.
Over the years, several Fortran compilers have been developed. By 1960, there were more than forty. A compiler is a platform upon with the programming code is organized in order for the computer to be able to understand the instructions. Some of the more common Fortran compilers include GNU gFORTRAN, Intel FORTRAN, and PgFORTRAN.
Topics related to Fortran, Fortran compilers, or other software specifically designed for use in the programming language are appropriate for this category, along with tutorials, guides, and user groups.
Recommended Resources
Absoft produces a line of Fortran compilers for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux. Source code compatible across platforms. Currently, its product line is headed by its Pro Fortran Compiler Suite and some optional add-ons, such as the IMSL Math & State Numerical Libraries, Gino Graphics packages, and Winteracter. Its products are highlighted, along with its technologies, and may be purchased online. License options, documentation, and other resources are included.
https://www.absoft.com/
Founded in 2006, Approximatrix develops specialized numerical computing applications, its flagship product being Simply Fortran, a complete development solution for Fortran, available for the Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and GNU/Linux platforms. The company also offers Simply Text, a fully functional text editor for Windows 10, and EasyPackager MSI, a graphical tool to create and organize Windows Installer files, and preshrunk-cotton, a Python package for converting a directory tree to HTML.
http://approximatrix.com/
Like other versions of Fortran, Fortran 90 is intended for use in scientific and engineering applications. The language was developed by the introduction of features that were new to Fortran, but based on aspects of C and Matlab. A summary of Fortran 90/95 is set forth, including their features, best practices, and information about the advantages of Fortran over C or C++, recommendations for books to learn the language from, and links to other resources.
https://www.fortran90.org/
Dedicated to Fortran programming, the Fortran Company presents news related to the programming language, including development information, technical tips, programming hints, and product reviews. The company also sells Fortran compilers, programming guides, and other tools, including books, and offers training in Modern Fortran 2003/2008, Fortran 90/95, Visual Fortran, and custom training, as well as consultation and refactoring of legacy codes.
https://www.fortran.com/
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) presents the Fortran standards documents and other relevant standards. The standards include Fortran Automatic Coding System for the IBM 704, Fortan 66, Fortan 77, Fortran 90, Fortran 95, Fortran 2003, Fortran 2008, and Fortran 2018, thus far. Other relevant standards included are OpenMP, OpenACC, POSIX, ISO/IEC Project 22.24772, IEEE 754, ISO/IEC 9899, ISO/IEC 14882, ISO/IEC 8652, MPI, and Unified Parallel C.
https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/GFortranStandards
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, the tutorial was prepared by Janet A. Nicholson, as a hands-on introduction to programming using the Fortran language, the emphasis being on learning how to program rather than learning Fortran. Tips on using the tutorial are given, and its resources include worksheets on basics, decisions, loops, files, and precision, arrays and IO, subprograms, and advanced topics. Debugging tips and recommended readings are included.
https://www.fortrantutorial.com/
G95 is a stable, production Fortran 95 compiler available for multiple CPU architectures and operating systems. Development continues on the compiler, and portions of Fortran 2003 and Fortran 2008 have been implemented, with more expected in the future. Its features, development notes, and documentation are put forth, and the compiler may be downloaded from the site, including its source, a manual, and other packages. Contributing persons are acknowledged.
http://www.g95.org/
The GFortran project is part of the GNU Project and intended to develop the Fortran compiler front end and runtime libraries for the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), which is fully compliant with the Fortran 95 Standard and includes legacy support for F77. The project objectives are stated, along with the status of the compiler and runtime library, information about extensions in GNU Fortran, and acknowledgments of those who have contributed to the project. Links to documentation are included.
https://gcc.gnu.org/fortran/
Photran is an IDE and refactoring tool for Fortran based on Eclipse and the CDT. Photran includes thirty-nine refactorings, as well as a syntax-highlighting editor, outline view, content assist, open declaration, declaration view and hover tips, Fortran language-based searching, an active debugger, makefile-based compilation, optional makefile generation, and recognition of error messages from most popular Fortran compilers. Screenshots, documentation, and a download page are presented.
http://www.eclipse.org/photran/
Previously known as Salford FTN95, SilverFrost FTN95 is a Fortran compiler for Microsoft Windows. The proprietary compiler is distributed under three licensed editions, commercial, academic, and personal, the latter free and designed for personal use. The personal edition may also be used as a trial version. Its features are highlighted, with screenshots, and a description of an accompanying resource, ClearWin+, which facilitates the production of complex graphics.
https://www.silverfrost.com/
Maintained by Approximatrix, Simply Fortran is an integrated development environment (IDE) for FORTRAN 77, Fortran 90, Fortran 95, Fortran 2003, and Fortran 2008. It includes an integrated debugger, and the GNU Fortran compiler, and operates in Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and GNU/Linux systems. It may be purchased from the site or downloaded for a thirty-day trial period. Its features are outlined, and screenshots are made available, along with a support forum.
http://simplyfortran.com/
WG5 Electronic Document Archive: Fortran
The maintenance of international standards in the field of IT is the responsibility of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through their Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC1), although the work of JTC1 is delegated to its subcommittees, which delegate the detailed work to permanent Working Groups (WGs) WG5 maintains the document text for the Fortran 95, Fortran 2003, Fortran 2008, and Fortran 2018 standards.
https://wg5-fortran.org/
