Hi Derick: Thanks for your response,
I am really a complete beginner at all of this. I had seen the Absoft and IBM compilers but was hoping to avoid any additional cost since I am only at the introductory level. I ordered a text "Fortran 90/95 for Scientist and Engineers" to get started. From what you wrote it appears that g77 may be all that I need. I am hoping that this is the case, and will check to see if I installed it. Thanks again, Thomas On 12/17/05 7:57 AM, "Derick Centeno" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Thomas: > > YDL includes g77 (it implements ANSI Fortran 95, I believe -- if you > select the options within the compiler to obey those rules) which is > the free open source GPL (General Public License) Fortran compiler. > g77 is part of the standard installation, if I recall correctly. There > are other Fortran compilers but they are commercial -- as in not free, > and usually start within the $300+ range (and that doesn't include > specialized packages). Absoft provides a really complete Fortran > compiler. If you are developing code professionally then you can > defray these costs according to the commercial projects you are engaged > in. You may also be able to defray the costs for the commercial > packages as a professional within academia. > > If you were paying attention during the YDL installation process you > would have noticed that there are many free programming packages > available for use within YDL (for use in C/C++ and Fortran as well as > others) which implement very advanced mathematical algorithms. > However, they are not installed unless you select them. There are > brief descriptions of each package to help you decide whether these > could be useful within your area of expertise. > > Fortunately, the very big advantage in using g77 and other GPL based > languages is that you can implement your work, and engage in as much > research as necessary without unnecessary financial expenses. If you > need something, you can always build it yourself. Necessity, remains > the mother of invention. This can be a positive experience in which > one's programming skills expand in otherwise unexpected ways. > Eventually you may find that you may have developed and expanded an > open source application by adding a completely new feature. This is > definitely another way to get noticed within your area of interest. > However, you can also discover that something you need -- a package, > which implements a particular algorithm -- may exist within the open > source community already. You may be pleasantly surprised. You could > find yourself also easily disappointed. However, the open source > Fortran is standard (depending upon what settings you choose during > compile time) and as a programmer it is not a bad place to evolve one's > skills. > > The commercial products from Absoft are definitely outstanding, but > whether they are justified as a purchase is question dependent upon > what you intend to do. You may discover that working with g77 may be > all that you really need a for a long time. If not, there is always > Absoft. > > If you want more information you can go here: > > http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-3.4.1/g77/ > > Another option to gain more information is to go to Google and enter > g77 in the Search field and see what comes up. > > Best wishes... > > On Dec 16, 2005, at 9:09 PM, Thomas Madden wrote: > >> Hello, >> I have installed YDL 4.0.1 on a Mac G4 533 dual. I am interested in >> beginning programming. I have a background in math, so I was hoping to >> learn >> Fortran. Can you tell me if there is a Fortran 95 compiler available? >> And, >> can you explain how to install it? >> >> Also, can you offer me some advice on how to get started. What exactly >> do I >> need to install in addition to the compiler? And, what steps do I take >> to do >> this? >> >> Thanks in advance for any assistance. >> >> Thomas >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> yellowdog-newbie mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie >> > > _______________________________________________ > yellowdog-newbie mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie _______________________________________________ yellowdog-newbie mailing list [email protected] http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie
