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Conference turris::fortran

Title:Digital Fortran
Notice:Read notes 1.* for important information
Moderator:QUARK::LIONEL
Created:Thu Jun 01 1995
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1333
Total number of notes:6734

1259.0. "fortran 2 decc..in alpha vms?" by FORAT::JLS (Are we in the same ship?) Mon Apr 14 1997 19:30

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Note 2152.0              fortran 2 decc ...in alpha vms.              No replies
FORAT::JLS "Are we in the same ship?"                12 lines  14-APR-1997 18:28
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    	Hello,
    
    	In reply 1431 is pointed a tool (f2c) to convert a fortran 
    	program to C in UNIX.Is there any tool,product to convert 
    	fortran sources to C in ALPHA VMS?.
    
    	A customer is asking to me if we have (free or paying) this kind 
    	of tool or product?
    
    	Thanks in advance,
    						/jls.
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1259.1What is this good for?WIBBIN::NOYCEPulling weeds, pickin&#039; stonesTue Apr 15 1997 09:135
I don't have an answer to your question -- I expect someone will soon.
But I'd really like to understand why the customer wants such a tool.
Could you explain how they intend to use it?  Is there something we should
be doing differently with out Fortran (or C?) compilers, so that users
wouldn't feel the need to translate programs into a different language?
1259.2netlib has the source for f2cAXPBIZ::KAMATHTue Apr 15 1997 15:3511
    
    For what it is worth, the source for f2c is available at netlib -
    http://www.netlib.org . You may also want to look at the netlib
    site at Bell Labs
    
         http://netlib.bell-labs.com/netlib/f2c/index.html
    
    which includes the paper describing f2c and the reasons why someone 
    might want to use it.
    
    chandrika.
1259.3Trying to clarify !FORAT::JLSAre we in the same ship?Wed Apr 16 1997 16:1719
    
    	Reply .1
    
    	The customer has developped originally his aplication in FORTRAN
    	and C in the VAX hardware plattaform.Actually he has migrate to    
    	ALPHA plattaform.He�s interested to have all the source code 
    	only in one language (DEC C ),because the major part of the code 
    	is built in DEC C (graphic application/motif).But he�s still having
    	enough fortran code to think in a tool/product helping in the 
    	porting. 
    
    	Reply .2
    
    	Thanks for the pointer..I'll try to take a look.By the way,do you 
    	know if this tool (f2c) is free? 
    
    	Thanks again,
    
    						/jls.
1259.4netlib stuff is freeAXPBIZ::KAMATHWed Apr 16 1997 16:436
    
    regarding .3 - everything in netlib is free. There is only one caveat:
    "Anything free comes with no guarantee!". However, it is my impression
    that f2c is well supported by the developers at Bell Labs.
    
    chandrika.
1259.5You might do well with f2c, but I'd be cautiousSUBPAC::FARICELLIWed Apr 16 1997 18:0618
   If the code already works on VAX/VMS, I don't see any technical reason why
   one would need to convert the FORTRAN code to C just to port to Alpha VMS.

   There are other reasons I can think of, like trying to save money by
   not buying the Alpha Fortran compiler, or that they don't have any
   programmers with Fortran expertise at their site.

   I'm not so familiar with f2c, but I would also caution that it is likely
   that many VAX FORTRAN extensions that they used in the original code
   may not be supported. There could also be subtle differences in
   interfacing routines that pass character strings between Fortran and C.
   The VAX compiler passes by descriptor; Unix typically by reference and
   a (hidden) length argument. f2c may assume the latter.

   -- John Faricelli

   
1259.6This won't get you a single-language environmentWIBBIN::NOYCEPulling weeds, pickin&#039; stonesWed Apr 16 1997 18:184
Also, don't assume that the C code that comes out of f2c will be easy
for C programmers to maintain.  The f2c documentation suggests you would
be better off maintaining the original Fortran, and running it through f2c
again whenever you change it.
1259.7RTL environment might be an issueSTEVEN::hobbsSteven HobbsWed Apr 16 1997 19:443
Also, if the customer Fortran code does any Fortran I/O or calls the
VMS Common Language RTL then the converted program might need some
additional work to interface with VMS run-time environment.
1259.8thanks!FORAT::JLSAre we in the same ship?Mon Apr 21 1997 14:1915
    	Hi,
    
    	I'll comment with the customer the comments and hints pointed.
    
    	Reply .5: Perhaps I wasn't explainning well the theme....the
    application was ported sucessfully from vax to alpha (both fortran and 
    c codes),and it's working actually in alpha systems.Now,after the
    porting,in the next step,the customer wants to go to one source code
    only. 
    
    
    
    	Thanks all for your comments,
    
    						/jls.