The Numerical Algorithms Group has released Fortran Builder 5.2 which features an implementation of the most recent Fortran 2003 standard and an IDE. Fortran Builder supports Microsoft Windows while providing a Fortran-aware editor, build system, GUI debugger and help system for Fortran. The NAG Fortran Compiler is also available for other platforms.
Key new NAG Fortran Compiler features include:
- More information, including line number, displayed in runtime messages
- More Fortran 2003 features
- Quad precision real and complex
- I/O library multi-threaded for performance
- Improved RANDOM_NUMBER generator
According to Malcolm Cohen, a NAG principal technical consultant and Editor of the ISO/IEC Fortran Standard comments, "Fortran users do not always consider that they ought not to depend on a single compiler, which may be set to sacrifice accuracy, standards-conformance and portability in exchange for speed. NAG’s Fortran Builder is probably the best checking compiler available. It is very exact in the interpretation of Fortran standards and incorporates cutting-edge run-time checking features including: procedure interface checking across multiple files; undefined variable trapping; memory leak detection; and more. Many report that their use of NAG Fortran Builder for maintaining standards, debugging and verification of their Fortran programs is invaluable, even if they also use another compiler".
Trials versions of Fortran Builder are available here.
