====================================================================== Fortran M, Version 1.0 Date: February 3, 1994 ======================================================================
-------------------------- Available software/reports: --------------------------
******************* Questions/comments? Direct email to fortran-m@mcs.anl.gov *******************
Ian Foster Robert Olson Steven Tuecke
======================================================================
****************** WHAT IS Fortran M? ******************
Fortran M is a small set of extensions to Fortran 77 that supports a modular approach to the design of message-passing programs. It has the following features.
(1) Modularity. Programs are constructed by using explicitly-declared communication channels to plug together program modules called processes. A process can encapsulate common data, subprocesses, and internal communication.
(2) Safety. Operations on channels are restricted so as to guarantee deterministic execution, even in dynamic computations that create and delete processes and channels. Channels are typed, so a compiler can check for correct usage.
(3) Architecture Independence. The mapping of processes to processors can be specified with respect to a virtual computer with size and shape different from that of the target computer. Mapping is specified by annotations that influence performance but not correctness.
(4) Efficiency. Fortran M can be compiled efficiently for uniprocessors, shared-memory computers, distributed-memory computers, and networks of workstations. Because message passing is incorporated into the language, a compiler can optimize communication as well as computation.
Compatability libraries are available that allow the integration of message-passing programs into an Fortran M framework. Send mail to fortran-m@mcs.anl.gov for details. A compilation system that integrates Fortran M and HPF is under development in collaboration with Syracuse University.
For more information, see the user manual or use World Wide Web at address http://www.mcs.anl.gov/fortran-m (WWW is a distributed multimedia system, accessible for example via NCSA XMosaic.) The server currently provides FM tutorial slides, the FM manual, application case studies, and programming examples.
Fortran M has been funded in part by NSF and DOE.
Eric and Jack
Privacy and Security. Website maintained by David M. Gay. Last modified: 15 September 2008.
