1EM - Essential Mathematics / Computational Laboratory

The Fortran language is widely available on all sorts of different computer systems. In particular, the gfortran compiler that we use for this course is free software that you can install on your computer at home. Here are some instructions for different operating systems:

It's reasonably likely that gfortran is already installed on your computer. Go to a Terminal and try typing gfortran. If it is not there, it is easiest to look at whatever package management system your unix computer uses. Likewise with gedit, or use one of the many other unix editors available.

Mac OS X is unix-based, and comes with the Terminal program (in the Utilities folder). gfortran is not installed by default. Perhaps the quickest way of installing is to go to this High Performance Computing (HPC) site, from which you can easily download the compiler. Simple installation instructions are included.

A probably better alternative is to install MacPorts, a package manager that lets you fairly easily install a lot of useful programs, including the gnuplot graphics program, and various editors, including gedit

Possibly the simplest option, for those not comfortable with the Terminal, is to go to help desk in the Austin Pearce building and ask for Fortran for Windows. It has an editor and Fortran compiler packaged together.

To provide a complete environment more like the unix-based computer labs, you could consider installing cygwin, which may come with gfortran, or it may be downloaded from here