🚀 go-pugleaf

RetroBBS NetNews Server

Inspired by RockSolid Light RIP Retro Guy

Thread View: bionet.software.contrib
2 messages
2 total messages Started by g_ahrendt Fri, 25 Nov 1988 12:21
RE: RE: Languages
#13
Author: g_ahrendt
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1988 12:21
1 lines
315 bytes
What have you got against FORTRAN?
Re: RE: RE: Languages
#14
Author: i_massey
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1988 10:32
41 lines
1942 bytes
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
Thread Navigation

This is a paginated view of messages in the thread with full content displayed inline.

Messages are displayed in chronological order, with the original post highlighted in green.

Use pagination controls to navigate through all messages in large threads.

Back to All Threads