Fortran

Fortran is the oldest (1954) advanced programming language in use today. It is widely used for applications requiring intensive numerical calculations, a field in which it has no serious competitors.

While Fortran 77 brought significant progress in the art of (good) programming with Fortran, its lack of profound reforms left it technically unprepared to face the last decade of the century. Aware of this danger of obsolescence, the group of experts in charge of this new revision has integrated some of today's most powerful concepts, such as modularity (already present in Ada and Pascal Extended, for example) and vector calculus.

Other major innovations include parameterization of numerical types, Cartesian types, pointers, recursion and, most visibly, a syntax freed from the rigid zoning vestige of punched cards. In addition, thanks to the concept of interface blocks coupled with modules, it makes reliable use of the considerable software investment represented by the large libraries of sub-programs available.

Fortran 90 remains fully compatible with the previous version (Fortran 77) of the language, allowing existing programs to be used, but with the possibility of two different program writing styles. However, the new standard is part of a long-term evolutionary process for the language, eliminating a number of features recognized as outdated, and likely to disappear with the next revision of the standard; the language is therefore not destined to grow indefinitely.

Boosted by these innovative contributions, Fortran 90 remains more than ever irreplaceable for all digital, scientific and technical programming. And we hope that it will once again play a key role in the initial training of our future engineers and technicians.