Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!uwmcsd1!leah!itsgw!rpitsmts!forumexp
From: William Dodge
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: (none)
Message-ID: <8052.651.forumexp@mts.rpi.edu>
Date: 8 Aug 88 13:40:00 GMT
Lines: 40


   Entered: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.
   Subject: Fortran 8X

   Eugene Miya writes:
   >We have to resolve this dusty deck problem.  If the problem is
   >pure compatibility, then we can never win.  Not if users want
   >performance
   >increases, reliability increases, etc.  I don't see users offering
   >what they are willing to compromise.  Should they prioritize what
   >they are willing to give up in order to get added features they want?

     Most Fortran users I meet or work with are not even tuned
     in to the fact that people are disucssing changes to the
     language. They are simply using it, as need arises, to
     solve problems in their own disciplines. They look at
     Fortran as a fixed entity and are not interested in
     learning something new.

     A friend of mine who works of G.E. is still trying to get
     his co-workers to move from F-66 to F-77. The inherent
     conservatism of many engineers is keeping most of them
     from even looking at why this change might be an
     advantage.

     I would guess that the task of getting current Fortran
     "users" to set any priorities for the new standard is
     essentially impossible, if we mean by that, the majority
     of all current users.


     ---------------------------------------

     William H. Dodge, Senior Lecturer
     Department of Computer Science
     Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. 12180

     Interent: William_Dodge@MTS.RPI.EDU
     Bitnet: userBY1C@PRITSMTS
     Telephone: (518) 276-6901