Learning the oldest programming language (2024)
2 days ago
- #Programming
- #Fortran
- #High-Performance Computing
- Fortran, created in 1957 by John Backus at IBM, stands for FORmula TRANslator and is used for scientific applications and high-performance computing.
- Modern Fortran uses free form layout (introduced in Fortran 90), recommended over fixed form layout inherited from punch cards.
- GNU Fortran (gfortran) is the compiler used, with .f90 extension indicating free form source code.
- Fortran syntax includes program structure with 'program <name>' and 'end program <name>', and uses 'print *, <message>' for output.
- Implicit typing in Fortran assigns default types based on variable names; 'implicit none' is recommended to disable this.
- Variables can be declared with types like REAL (floating point) and CHARACTER (characters).
- User input is handled with 'read *, <variable>', and conditional logic uses 'if' and 'select case' statements.
- A simple calculator example demonstrates basic Fortran features, including handling division by zero.
- Fortran is modernizing, with a growing community and interest from developers like ThePrimeagen.