Commercial IDEs
Commercial software, although not free, provides support, installation simplicity, special purpose libraries, and platform specific functionality not found in cross-platform open source programs.
We list here commercial products that you might consider. Most have a free trial period to see if the software works as you would like. The prices are for the student license, when available.
Windows IDEs
Windows has a number of Fortran development environments, ususally associated with a particular compiler.
- Absoft Fortran ($299) http://www.absoft.com/Absoft_IDE.htm
Absoft includes a development environment, compiler and numerical libraries like LAPACK.
- Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) http://www.nag.co.uk/nagware/NP/fortranbuilder.asp
The NAG IDE includes the compiler, in-built help system including Fortran language guide a Fortran aware editor and keyword completion.
- The Portland Group ($369) http://www.pgroup.com/products/pvf.htm
The PGI compiler integrates with the Microsoft Visual Studio, which is available free to students. PVF has features to help with rapid code development, like syntax coloring, Fortran intrinsics tips and keyword completion.
- Silverfrost ($299) http://www.silverfrost.com/16/ftn95/plato.aspx
Silverfrost sells the Plato text editor that provides project management compatible with visiual studio. Programmers can compile and track compilation errors, build and run from the IDE.
- Simply Fortran ($65) http://simplyfortran.com
Simply Fortran's development environment is designed to work with (and includes) the free gfortran compiler. It provides call tips for functions and subroutines declared within a project. Documentation for intrinsic functions is displayed, as well.
Mac IDEs
Two development environments are available for the Mac. They are:
- Absoft Fortran ($299) http://www.absoft.com/Absoft_IDE.htm
Absoft includes a development environment, compiler and numerical libraries like LAPACK. The development environment is cross-platform and identical to the Linux and Windows versions.
- FTranProjectBuilder ($29) http://www.nocturnalaviationsoftware.com
The FTranProjectBuilder IDE is a Mac-Native Fortran development environment. Its IDE includes syntax highlighting, inline error reporting and templates for commonly used structures like subroutines and modules. FtranProjectSuilder can be used with any Mac Fortran compiler, including the free gfortran.
Linux IDEs
- Absoft Fortran ($299) http://www.absoft.com/Absoft_IDE.htm
Absoft includes a development environment, compiler and numerical libraries like LAPACK. The development environment is cross-platform and identical to the Mac and Windows versions.