GF77 and GF90

[David Hough]

From: burleyaworld.std.com (James C Burley)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: GNU Fortran: Help, Anyone?
Date: 15 Jul 90 07:05:27 GMT

Hi.  I'm working on GNU Fortran.  In particular, the front end; the idea
being that, once I finish it, we "simply" attach it to GCC (the GNU C
compiler) and "just" write a run-time library and out pops a free Fortran
compiler.

I'd like to build a (relatively small) email list (or perhaps newsgroup?)
consisting of people who have significant and detailed knowledge of Fortran
77, widely used Fortran extensions, and Fortran 90 (aka 8x aka 9x).

The reason is that I've got questions about the draft standard for Fortran
90 that are beginning to hamper my progress on the FFE (Fortran Front End)
I'm writing.  I'd like to be able to toss out questions as they occur (I do
have a backlog) and see if anyone can come up with a helpful answer.

Apparently this approach has worked for authors of other GNU software, like
C++.

Requirements: willingness and ability to volunteer short bursts of time
researching questions about F77, F90, or commonly used extensions in enough
detail to help with compiler and run-time library implementation.  In
particular, somebody with a Fortran 90 standard draft (I've got Version 112,
which is a little old) and the ability to actually READ the thing (which I
haven't got in sufficient quantity) would be great.

Example (F77): What is the data type and nature of SQRT in the following
program fragment (i.e. can you track down the pertinent reference(s) in the
F77 or F90 standard that define this case):

      PROGRAM MAIN
      INTEGER SQRT
      PRINT *,SQRT(9.0)
      END

That is, is the result a link error because no SQRT function is provided (and,
if so, what should the return type of SQRT be); a valid program that outputs
"3.0" (or equivalent) when run; or that outputs "3" (an integer) when run?
(Don't bother sending the answer to me unless you want verification: I already
know it, having researched it myself.  I think the other unanswered questions
are harder.)

Basically I'm getting less and less enthusiastic about pulling my hair out
over the F90 standard and would prefer to concentrate instead on finishing
coding the FFE.

FYI, I'm doing this project as a Free Software Foundation (FSF) volunteer,
so I'm not paying anyone anything!  The rewards are the usual: the feeling
of answering someone else's silly question with The Truth; helping to create
a new, useful, Free Software Product; spending time doing someone else's
work instead of your own; and so on.

And if you REALLY want to help in a serious way, if you want to start
designing and/or coding a run-time library for F77/extensions/F90 in GCC,
let me know.  You won't have a compiler to work with right away, but that
might not stop a truly ... -ahem- ... "inspired" individual!

Send responses back to "burleyaworld.std.com" or, if that fails,
"craig.burleyaf485.n101.z1.fidonet.org".  If all else fails, contact one of
the FSF people (I hesitate to nominate anyone in particular) -- they've got
my wetware address and phone# in some file somewhere.

      tq vm, (burley) "The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of
                       my employer, especially because I have none."