On 8/12/2010 5:34 PM, Jim Lux wrote:
John Smith wrote:
snip

FORTRAN is pretty much a dead language, although you will find strong
argument to that statement in some math circles. While I do agree that
language makes little difference to software engineers, most being
fluent in many/multiple languages, a C translation just keeps the
code, more, up-to-date.


FORTRAN is far from dead in applications processing massive arrays (just
about any finite element program). For instance, I'd venture that most
weather prediction codes are in FORTRAN (MM5, which is a widely used
mesoscale modeling code, is in FORTRAN, as is WRF), as are a lot of
structural analysis (e.g. NASTRAN is in FORTRAN), and virtually ALL
electromagnetics codes.

FORTRAN is hard to beat when it comes to specifying array operations,
and such. Running gridded models doesn't require much in the way of
pointers or string manipulation, which are admittedly a pain in older
FORTRANs (pre FORTRAN-90 or FORTRAN-77). FORTRAN also has an intrinsic
Complex type which is nice.

Compilers for numerical analysis applications (e.g. those weather grid
models) for FORTRAN are highly optimized, too. There's also nifty tools
like FLIC (FORTRAN Loop and Index Converter)


There's even new versions of FORTRAN coming out.


My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University. Her thesis
was all about data sets massaged with FORTRAN.

It ain't dead. Far from it.

tom
K0TAR

On 8/12/2010 6:24 PM, tom wrote:

...
My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University. Her thesis
was all about data sets massaged with FORTRAN.

It ain't dead. Far from it.

tom
K0TAR

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

Why anyone would allow a thesis to be done which would favor a
particular language defies rationality. As, language is only a device
for the implementation of truths, ideas, algorithms and laws. It is the
underlying structure of math and logic which are the only important
points. To express these in a form speaking to computer engineers, a
"language" such as pseudo-code would be the logical choice. To do any
different simply implies there are interests at work other than pure
science.

Are you sure a FORTRAN compiler/developer with financial interests did
not back this academic venture? ROFLOL

Regards,
JS

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

On 8/12/2010 10:20 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

Oh no, another know-it-all that knows nothing. ROFLOL

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:51:49 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

On 8/12/2010 10:20 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

Oh no, another know-it-all that knows nothing. ROFLOL

A confirmation. ;-)

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On 8/13/2010 12:17 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:51:49 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

On 8/12/2010 10:20 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

Oh no, another know-it-all that knows nothing. ROFLOL

A confirmation. ;-)

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

It says a lot about ability and self esteem when someone has an email
address like his and says the things he does. My guess is that I have
made a lot more money programming than he ever will. And in a lot more
languages. And a lot fewer bugs.

tom
K0TAR

On Aug 13, 10:59*pm, tom wrote:
On 8/13/2010 12:17 PM, Richard Clark wrote:



On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:51:49 -0700, John Smith
*wrote:

On 8/12/2010 10:20 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
* wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. *There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

Oh no, another know-it-all that knows nothing. *ROFLOL

A confirmation. *;-)

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

It says a lot about ability and self esteem when someone has an email
address like his and says the things he does. *My guess is that I have
made a lot more money programming than he ever will. *And in a lot more
languages. *And a lot fewer bugs.

tom
K0TAR

amen on that... lets see, 42 years programming now, 26 getting paid
just for that, languages??? pdp8 assy, focal, fortran(several
versions), basic(several variants), pascal, x86 assy, vb, ada, c, c++,
c#, vb.net, asp.net, various jcl variations, ibm360 assy, 68xxx assy,
objective c, pl-1, apl, java, javascript, vrml, html, xaml, xml,
matlab, mathcad, and probably a few others i have forgotten.

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:59:10 -0500, tom wrote:

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

Oh no, another know-it-all that knows nothing. ROFLOL

A confirmation. ;-)

Anyone else would have asked who Mr. Ostrom is - or wait for Mr.
Ostrom to indignantly reply (and he did).

It says a lot about ability and self esteem when someone has an email
address like his and says the things he does. My guess is that I have
made a lot more money programming than he ever will. And in a lot more
languages. And a lot fewer bugs.

Hi Tom,

Brett has an identity problem here. Even Art has a better self image.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On 8/12/2010 10:20 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:06:21 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

My daughter just got her doctorate from Columbia University.

Frankly, I find that amazing, indeed, it implies insanity to me.

And our friend Mr. Ostrom, the computer scientist, got his AS degree
in Chico something more than a dozen years ago. There's authority on
the topic speaking for ya'.

To which, I reply:
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to
real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

However, I knew you would be along, shortly, with character
assassination, high-jacking of content to other subjects, etc. My gawd
man, so predictable, return years later, all is still the same. ROFLOL

Regards,
Mr. Ostrom

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:05:48 -0700, John Smith
wrote:

Mr. Ostrom

Of course.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC