g_ahrendt@vaxa.uwa.oz (11/25/88)
What have you got against FORTRAN?
i_massey@vaxa.uwa.oz (11/28/88)
In article <567958@vaxa.uwa.oz>, g_ahrendt@vaxa.uwa.oz writes: > What have you got against FORTRAN? This is not the forum, but just quickly: . 6-character identifiers . scalar data types limited to integer, real, double, character, logical, complex - where are the rest? . data structures limited to array and string - where are the rest? . minimal facilities for block structuring . optional pre-declaration of scalar variables . implicit typing . use of 1. for 1.0, combined with overloading of dots, as in .T. . tokenizing dependent on semantics . layout restrictions . no pointers . no recursion . no mandatory runtime checks on addresses . parameter passing only by reference On the plus side: . modularity (cf original Jensen/Wirth Pascal) . formatted I/O (cf C's %this and %that) It's a powerful language in which it's difficult to express yourself clearly. That's dangerous. Sure, you can live with it. But why bind yourself in such bonds? Even scientists can indulge themselves in clear and natural notations :-). i. Iain Massey, Division of Public Health Department of Medicine, The University of Western Australia Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009 Phone : +61 9 389 2462 Fax : +61 9 389 3648 ACSnet: I_MASSEY@vaxa.uwa.oz CSnet: I_MASSEY@vaxa.uwa.oz.au ARPA : I_MASSEY%vaxa.uwa.oz.au@uunet.uu.net JANET: vaxa.uwa.oz.au!I_MASSEY@ukc UUCP : {enea,hplabs,mcvax,prlb2,uunet,ubc-vision,ukc}!munnari!vaxa.uwa.oz.au!I_MASSEY BITNET: via uunet.uu.net