[net.micro.pc] PC/AT Fortran Compilers

caddac@watdcsu.UUCP (D.J. Roulston - ELectrical Engineering) (04/09/86)

I am posting to request information about Fortran compilers for the
IBM PC/AT. The five compilers I know about are: WATCOM Fortran, DRI
Fortran-77, IBM-PC Pro. Fortran, Lahey F77L, MicroSoft Fortran. Are
there any others worth knowing about? I've pretty well ruled out the
WATCOM compiler because it's too restrictive. What I need to know
about any of the other compilers is:

	(1) Size limits on data and code.
	(2) Type restrictions, i.e. can a character data type be
	    assigned to a numeric variable via a data statement
	    and/or normal assignment statement.
	(3) Which allow I/O unit spec's to be set at runtime.
	(4) Which have good documentation, error messages, debuggers,
	    etc.
	(5) What operating systems they run under, and an idea
	    of how big a run module the O.S. will support.
	(6) Which linkers they use and the limitations of the linker,
	    i.e. maximum object module size, maximum number of object
	    modules they can handle, etc.
	(7) General comments on bugs, pro's and con's would be useful.

My ultimate goal is to port a LARGE software package written in
FORTRAN 66 from an IBM mainframe to an IBM PC/AT. Any helpful hints
on the subject would be appreciated. Please mail replies to

		Heidi Strayer,
		... {ihnp4,...}!watmath!watdcsu!caddac

Thanks!