Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!ohstpy!smithj From: SMITHJ@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran Subject: C vs. FORTRAN Message-ID: <3289@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu> Date: 3 Aug 89 21:28:49 GMT Lines: 26 X-NEWS: ohstpy comp.lang.c: 2092 This may have been discussed here millions of times before, but here it goes. What are the reasons for using FORTRAN over C? I have heard claims that the code is easier to optimize and that current benchmarks show that this is the case on all mainframes. My experience is that this is pure bu****it. Have done my own testing, I find that C runs faster on PC's. Is it likely that C runs slower--on say the VAX--because it is only in version 2.4 whereas the FORTRAN compiler is at version 90+ (i.e. fewer man hours have been put into developing mainframe C compilers)? No remarks about the ease of use of complex numbers in FORTRAN are acceptable. -- /* Jeffery G. Smith, BS-RHIT (AKA Doc. Insomnia, WMHD-FM) * * The Ohio State University, Graduate Physics Program * * 3193 Smith Lab, Columbus, OH 43210 (614) 292-5321 * * smithj@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu */ -- /* Jeffery G. Smith, BS-RHIT (AKA Doc. Insomnia, WMHD-FM) * * The Ohio State University, Graduate Physics Program * * 3193 Smith Lab, Columbus, OH 43210 (614) 292-5321 * * smithj@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu */