Learn Fortran

So you want to learn Fortran. Well, so do I. This is Brian's sandbox for learning Fortran using VS Code.

My goal is that this learning environment will work on both Linux and Windows using software available on conda-forge.

Set up

1. Clone this repository

Clone this repository and open the folder/workspace in VS Code.

2. Install the recommended VS Code extensions

Install the following recommended VS Code extensions.

• Modern Fortran
• Code Runner

3. Create the Conda environment

Assuming you have the Conda package manager installed, the fastest way to create the provided Conda environment is to run the VS Code custom workspace task:

1. Open command pallet with Ctrl+Shift+P.
2. Run Tasks: Run Task
3. Select 🐍 Conda: Create environment learn_fortran

Note: When you want to update the environment, run the task 🥇 Conda: Update environment learn_fortran

4. Include installed programs in your PATH

Add gfortran, fortls, and fprettify to your environment PATH. See platform-specific details below:

Windows

You can find the path for these programs with these commands in the Windows command prompt:

where gfortran
where fortls
where fprettify

Hit the Windows Key and search for and open Edit environment variables for your account. Click the Path line and Edit. Then click New and type the path for gfortran, fortls, findent and fprettify. You should have something like these three lines:

C:\Users\blaylock\Miniconda3\envs\learn_fortran\Library\mingw-w64\bin
C:\Users\blaylock\Miniconda3\envs\learn_fortran\Scripts
C:\Users\blaylock\Miniconda3\envs\learn_fortran\bin

Note: Watch for an update to the m2w64-gfortran compiler 😁.

Linux

which gfortran
which fortls
which fprettify

Your .bashrc file might have this line to append the PATH:

export PATH="$PATH:/Users/blaylock/anaconda3/envs/learn_fortran/bin"

Quick Compile

I'm using the Code Runner extension to do a quick compile and run of a Fortran program. When you have a program source code file open and in focus (i.e., src/hello_world/hello_world.f90), use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+N to compile and run the Fortran program. The output will show below in the terminal window. It's that easy.

Learning Resources

Fortran Language

• https://fortran-lang.org/
• https://fortranwiki.org/fortran/show/HomePage
• https://www.fortran90.org/src/rosetta.html
• https://www.tutorialspoint.com/fortran/
• https://ourcodingclub.github.io/tutorials/fortran-intro/?ref=www.asquero.com
• gfortran reference: Intrinsic Procedures
• Book: https://livebook.manning.com/book/modern-fortran

Fortran in VS Code

• https://github.com/JHenneberg/Guide_VSCode-fortran
• https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=fortran-lang.linter-gfortran