Difference between revisions of "FORTRAN"

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Fortran, better known as a "FORmula TRANslator".  Its primary use was in Scientific and Engineering disciplines.  FORTRAN runs on big machines like mainframes, supercomputers, minicomputers and even down to 8 bit CP/M machines.  It's a relatively portable language, however many vendors have extended the language in unique and incompatible ways.  However over the years FORTRANs popularity has significantly waned, although there is still a significant amount of legacy code out there.  
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'''FORTRAN''' (the name is short for "FORmula TRANslator") refers to an evolutionary series of versions of a [[programming language]], one which dates back to 1954 (the first version was released for use in early 1957); if not quite the earliest days of computers, it was one of the first computer languages.
  
== Dialects ==
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It was initially developed by [[International Business Machines|IBM]] for the [[IBM 704]], for use in writing mathematical applications, primarily in scientific and engineering disciplines. Although it has been broadened since its early days to include other capabilities, that always remained its principal area of use.
There have been several popular versions of Fortran, namely:
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*FORTRAN IV
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It was an extremely important step in the evolution of computers, since it allowed [[end-user]]s to write their own programs, instead of having to interact with professional [[programmer]]s to use computers.
*FORTRAN 66
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*FORTRAN 77
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Ironically, although it is now considered old-fashioned, when it was first introduced, it was very controversial - mostly because people doubted that a [[compiler]] could produce [[object code]] that was as efficient as that produced directly by human programmers.
*FORTRAN 90
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*FORTRAN 95
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==History==
 +
 
 +
It spread rapidly; the first non-IBM version was produced for the [[UNIVAC I]] in January, 1961, followed by a version for the [[Remington Rand]] [[LARC]] later that year. By 1964, no less than 43 were known.
 +
 
 +
FORTRAN now runs on big machines like mainframes, supercomputers, minicomputers and even down to 8 bit CP/M machines.
 +
 
 +
Although FORTRAN's popularity has significantly waned over the years, there is still a significant amount of legacy code out there.
 +
 
 +
== Versions and Dialects ==
 +
 
 +
Fortran exists in many versions (i.e. those specifically approved by standards bodies) and dialects (i.e. local extensions); although it's a relatively portable language, many vendors extended the language in unique and incompatible ways.
 +
 
 +
Among the versions are:
 +
 
 +
* FORTRAN II (June, 1958; added subroutines)
 +
* FORTRAN IV (1962)
 +
* FORTRAN 66
 +
* FORTRAN 77
 +
* FORTRAN 90
 +
* FORTRAN 95
 +
 
 +
Some dialects are:
 +
 
 +
* FORTRAN III (internal to IBM)
 +
* RATFOR (FORTRAN with modern [[control flow]])
  
 
== Hello World ==
 
== Hello World ==
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This is a simple FORTRAN program.
 
This is a simple FORTRAN program.
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
Line 18: Line 43:
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
== Folk lore ==
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== Folklore ==
Fortran is popular from the old rant "[[Real Programmers Don't Use Pascal]]".
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Fortran is mentioned in the well-known rant "[[Real Programmers Don't Use Pascal]]".
  
 
== Popular Compilers ==
 
== Popular Compilers ==
 +
 
*[[f77]]<br>
 
*[[f77]]<br>
 
*[[g77]]<br>
 
*[[g77]]<br>
 
*[[Watcom Fortran]]<br>
 
*[[Watcom Fortran]]<br>
 
*[[Microsoft Fortran]]<br>
 
*[[Microsoft Fortran]]<br>
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*[[VAX FORTRAN]]<br>
  
 
== Popular Fortran Programs ==
 
== Popular Fortran Programs ==
 +
 +
*[[Adventure]]
 
*[[Snoopy Calendar]]
 
*[[Snoopy Calendar]]
*[[Zork]]
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*Bob Supnik ported [[Zork]] to Fortran
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*[[TREK7]]
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*[[Whetstone]]
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*[[SPICE]]
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==External links==
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* [http://ed-thelen.org/FortranHistories/1%20Paul%20McJones%20-%20In%20Searchof%20the%20Original%20FORTRAN%20compiler.pdf In Search of the Original Fortran Compiler]
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* [https://www.softwarepreservation.org/projects/FORTRAN/ History of FORTRAN and FORTRAN II]
  
{{stub}}
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[[Category: Languages]]
[[Category:Languages]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:01, 8 April 2023

FORTRAN (the name is short for "FORmula TRANslator") refers to an evolutionary series of versions of a programming language, one which dates back to 1954 (the first version was released for use in early 1957); if not quite the earliest days of computers, it was one of the first computer languages.

It was initially developed by IBM for the IBM 704, for use in writing mathematical applications, primarily in scientific and engineering disciplines. Although it has been broadened since its early days to include other capabilities, that always remained its principal area of use.

It was an extremely important step in the evolution of computers, since it allowed end-users to write their own programs, instead of having to interact with professional programmers to use computers.

Ironically, although it is now considered old-fashioned, when it was first introduced, it was very controversial - mostly because people doubted that a compiler could produce object code that was as efficient as that produced directly by human programmers.

History

It spread rapidly; the first non-IBM version was produced for the UNIVAC I in January, 1961, followed by a version for the Remington Rand LARC later that year. By 1964, no less than 43 were known.

FORTRAN now runs on big machines like mainframes, supercomputers, minicomputers and even down to 8 bit CP/M machines.

Although FORTRAN's popularity has significantly waned over the years, there is still a significant amount of legacy code out there.

Versions and Dialects

Fortran exists in many versions (i.e. those specifically approved by standards bodies) and dialects (i.e. local extensions); although it's a relatively portable language, many vendors extended the language in unique and incompatible ways.

Among the versions are:

  • FORTRAN II (June, 1958; added subroutines)
  • FORTRAN IV (1962)
  • FORTRAN 66
  • FORTRAN 77
  • FORTRAN 90
  • FORTRAN 95

Some dialects are:

  • FORTRAN III (internal to IBM)
  • RATFOR (FORTRAN with modern control flow)

Hello World

This is a simple FORTRAN program.

C23456789012345678901234567890
      program hello 
      print *, 'Hello!' 
      end

Folklore

Fortran is mentioned in the well-known rant "Real Programmers Don't Use Pascal".

Popular Compilers

Popular Fortran Programs

External links