mdc@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (D C Marden) (05/10/91)
I am posting this for a young friend of our family. He is a student (read going to school and working, virtually at the same time). He needs a fortran compiler that will run on a PC (IBM compatible) but $500 for Microsofts version is a little steep. Anybody know if there is an fortran compiler that is somehow in the public domian and if so how to get a copy of it?
v087mxgb@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu (Shawn E Thompson) (05/10/91)
In article <22@pyuxf.UUCP>, mdc@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (D C Marden) writes... > >Anybody know if there is an fortran compiler that is somehow in >the public domian and if so how to get a copy of it? I looked around a little while ago for the same thing, but to no avail (I second the motion - are there any out there, I found FST's Modula-2 to be excellent!!). I settled on two alternatives - Lahey's Personal Fortran77 ($100 range - excellent), or buying a license transfer (legally transferred) from an OLD MS version from someone (my old company sold an entire TI Professional Computer, including all original software, etc for $100. I would think you could look for a used license, but check with the manufacturer about license transfer - its a pretty standard thing now, and fully legal. Anyway, maybe look at picking up someone's old MS Fortran version 3 or so....... st
Ross Taylor <taylor@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> (05/10/91)
In response to the last message from Shawn Thompson regarding getting software transfers from companies, he suggested picking up an old MS Fortran 3.x. My recommendation, for what it is worth, is to stay away from MS Fortran 3.x. Its a pain to use and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, it is not a complete implementation of F77. MS Fortran did not getto be any good until version 4.01 (now 5.0 is out). I have used these for years and am happy with them but they are not good tools for the beginning FORTRAN programmer (student?). There is a non-trivial learning curve associated with any sophisticated compiler and MS Fortran certainly falls into this category. My sceond recommendation is that the individual who wanted a Fortran compiler for a student (did I remember correctly) look at WATFOR77 form WATCOM. Its a one pass compiler with excellent diagnostics and a built in debugger. Its not that expensive and many universities use it and/or have site licenses for it. Mine does and we have used it for many years in our beginning Fortran course. If the person concerned is going to a University, he/she might look into whether or not that institution has a site license already. Ross Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Clarkson University Potsdam, NY 13699 (yes, we have our won zip code) taylor@sun.soe.clarkson.edu
ralphc@tekcae.CAX.TEK.COM (Ralph Carpenter) (05/15/91)
In article <75798@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v087mxgb@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
+In article <22@pyuxf.UUCP>, mdc@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (D C Marden) writes...
+>
+>Anybody know if there is an fortran compiler that is somehow in
+>the public domian and if so how to get a copy of it?
+
+I settled on two alternatives - Lahey's Personal
+Fortran77 ($100 range - excellent), or buying a
+license transfer (legally transferred) from an
+OLD MS version from someone (my old company [text deleted]
Microsoft Fortran Version 5's street price is less than $300. I have ordered
from a mail order place called Telemart, in Phoenix, that did well by me, that
advertises MicroSoft Fortran for $275 + $8 shipping (1+800+622-6659) (May 14
1991 PC Magazine, page 91) Of course,I have no connection with them,
except as a once satisfied customer.
One other angle, I once bought an old (Tandy) version of M/S fortran and M/S
let me upgrade it for $150 with the front page of the reference manual. Call
Microsoft Sales 1+800+227-6444 first.
Ralph Carpenter