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From: ARRITT@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (What a waste it is to lose one's mind.)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PC FORTRAN compiler?
Message-ID: <21117@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 12 Jan 90 05:02:45 GMT
References: <6595@ogicse.ogc.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 35

In article <6595@ogicse.ogc.edu>, kburns@ogicse.ogc.edu (Ken Burns) writes:
>   We are looking for a FORTRAN compiler to run on an IBM compatible.
>   We just need to port some programs from our uVAX to the PC world
>   and don't want to spend the big bucks for a Microsoft FORTRAN
>   compiler.  Any pointers would be appreciated.  Thanks.


The Microsoft compiler is only a very limited subset of Fortran-77.  
I tried it and got hundreds of error messages.  Although I don't pretend 
to be a great (or even good) programmer, the code has run on 11 different 
systems made by 6 manufacturers, ranging from low-end Microvaxes to a 
Cray X/MP-48.  So it's Microsoft's problem and not any quirk of the code.  

Moral:
don't expect a quick and easy port using the Microsoft Fortran compiler.
In fairness our Microsoft compiler is a couple of years old.  Maybe the more
recent ones are better.

If your code is very small you might try Lahey Personal Fortran.  It is 
only about $100 or so, but is limited to 64K (yes, that's 64K, not 640K).  
The next larger is Lahey F77L.  It can use up to 640K but costs $595 (ouch). 
Finally there are 16 and 32 bit versions, for up to 4 gigabytes.  The 32 bit 
version costs $895 and also requires their $195 DOS extender (double ouch). 

Anybody know of an AFFORDABLE Fortran-77 compiler?  No gee-whiz stuff or
even VAX extensions, just a solid, clean F-77 standard?  Has anyone used 
the Ryan-McFarland or other compilers?  
________________________________________________________________________
Ray Arritt                        |  "What a waste it is to lose one's
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy    |   mind, or not to have a mind.  How
Univ. of Kansas                   |   true that is."
Lawrence, KS  66045               |              J.D. Quayle, 10 May 1989
arritt@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu         |
arritt@ukanvax.bitnet             |