Fortran

Definition

Fortran, short for Formula Translation, is one of the oldest high-level programming languages, originally developed in the 1950s for scientific and engineering computations. It is widely used in applications requiring extensive numerical calculations and supports various programming paradigms, including procedural and parallel programming. Its rich libraries and support for array operations make it particularly suitable for shared memory and hybrid computing models.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fortran is particularly strong in numerical computations and has built-in support for array manipulation, making it ideal for scientific applications.
2. The language has evolved over the years with several versions, including Fortran 77, Fortran 90, and Fortran 2008, each introducing new features for modern programming practices.
3. Fortran's support for parallel programming enables developers to write efficient code that can run on multi-core processors or distributed systems.
4. Many libraries and frameworks built on Fortran, such as LAPACK and BLAS, are extensively used in high-performance computing and mathematical problem solving.
5. The use of Fortran in hybrid programming models often involves combining it with other languages like C or C++ to leverage the strengths of each language in complex applications.

Review Questions

• How does Fortran support shared memory programming models, and what specific features contribute to this support?
  • Fortran supports shared memory programming models through its array operations and intrinsic functions, allowing multiple threads to access and manipulate data stored in a shared space efficiently. The language's structured format makes it easier to implement constructs like parallel regions using directives from APIs such as OpenMP. This capability enhances performance for numerical computations, enabling developers to take advantage of multicore processors effectively.
• Discuss how Fortran fits into hybrid programming models and the advantages it offers when integrated with other languages.
  • Fortran fits into hybrid programming models by allowing seamless integration with languages like C and C++. This interoperability enables developers to use Fortran's robust numerical libraries while leveraging C or C++ for system-level programming or GUI development. The advantage lies in being able to combine the high-performance computing capabilities of Fortran with the versatility and modern features of other languages, ultimately leading to more efficient and maintainable code.
• Evaluate the impact of Fortran on parallel regions and work sharing constructs within high-performance computing applications.
  • Fortran has significantly impacted the development of parallel regions and work sharing constructs by providing robust support through APIs like OpenMP. These constructs allow programmers to easily specify how work should be divided among multiple threads, enhancing the performance of scientific computations. Additionally, Fortran's historical significance in high-performance computing means that many existing codes leverage its capabilities, shaping the way parallelism is approached in modern computing environments.

Related terms

Parallel Computing: A type of computation in which many calculations or processes are carried out simultaneously, often used to solve complex problems more efficiently.

OpenMP:

An application programming interface (API) that supports multi-platform shared memory multiprocessing programming in C, C++, and Fortran.

MPI:

Message Passing Interface is a standardized and portable message-passing system designed to allow processes to communicate with each other in parallel computing environments.