Class Information: 2025

• Instructor: Prof. Paul Tackley, room NO H9.1, ptackley@ethz.ch, 044 633-2758
• Schedule: 16:15-18:00 Mondays from 22.09-08.12.2025 (12 lectures)
• Grading: 3 KP on weekly assignments (hand in to ETHFortran@gmail.com); 1 KP (optional) on a semester project - writing a program for a scientific application to be agreed upon individually.
• Project: Some instructions on the optional 1 KP project are here.
• Description: FORTRAN (95/2003/2008/2013/2018) is a modern programming language that is specifically designed for scientific and engineering applications. This course gives an introduction to programming in this language, and is suitable for students who have only minimal programming experience, for example with MATLAB scripts. The focus will be on Fortran 95 and its more recent extensions (2003/2008/2013/2018), but differences to Fortran 77 will also be briefly covered for those working with already-existing codes. A hands-on approach will be emphasised rather than abstract concepts, using example scientific problems relevant to Earth science.
• Computing requirements: A computer is needed during lectures. Please bring your own laptop with a suitable Fortran95 compiler installed (see below; installation help will be available in the first class). A computer is also needed to finish the weekly assignments.
• Books etc.: There is no required book, but a book might be useful. Class notes (posted here each week) + free online tutorials listed below + a free reference manual (such as the one listed below downloadable as PDF from Intel) might be sufficient. If you would like a book, two that get good reviews are: "Fortran for Scientists and Engineers" by Stephen J. Chapman, or "Modern Fortran Explained" by Michael Metcalf, John Reid, and Malcolm Cohen. Alternatively, look in a good technical bookstore for something that seems well written and easy to follow.

Fortran compilers

The most convenient way to do the exercises is on your own computer after installing a compiler. The main choices are listed below. gfortran is the most universal/popular, is completely free and can be used on Windows, MacOSX or Linux. The Intel compiler is probably the best compiler, is available free to individuals, and also works on Windows, MacOSX and Linux.

gfortran: Developed by the GNU, the free software foundation. See http://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/GFortran.

• Linux: One of the optional packages to install.
• MacOSX: Install (i) Xcode (from App Store), (ii) XCode command line tools, (iii) gfortran from http://hpc.sourceforge.net or https://brew.sh.
• Windows: There are 3 main possibilities: (i) Install MinGW, which allows you to use gfortran inside a Command Prompt window. Follow these instructions, being sure to edit your path. (ii) Install Cygwin, which provides a unix-like environment in which you can use gfortran (www.cygwin.com - make sure to select fortran during the installation process; your files can be found in C:\cygwin64\home\yourname). (iii) Install Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which allows you to run a full Linux installation at the same time as Windows, as discussed here and here.

Intel Fortran Compiler: This is available either (i) free to everyone for Linux and Windows only directly from Intel as part of the oneAPI HPC Toolkit (here), which can optionally use an Application Programming Interface such as Visual Studio 2019 (make sure to install "Desktop development with C++") or Visual Studio Code (ii) free to ETH employees (e.g. doctoral students) for Linux, Windows and MacOS from the IT shop (Intel Parallel Studio XE 2020).

A good editor that highlights Fortran syntax is also very useful. Emacs is a good one: for Mac the Aquamacs version is nice, for Windows download the emacs-w64 version. Another suitable one for Windows is Kate. Visual Studio Code is also very useful.

Free resources on the internet

1. A manual. A good one is the Intel Fortan Language Reference Manual.

2. Tutorials

• A list of tutorials at the Fortran Wiki.
• Useful mini-book tutorials and links at fortran-lang.org.
• Online Fortran 90 Tutorial by C.-K. Shene at Michigan Technological University.
• Tutorial including advanced features at RIPtutorial.com.
• Online Fortran 90 Tutorial at Stanford University.
• Some concise summaries by Michael Metcalf downloadable here.
• User notes on Fortran programming (an open cooperative practical guide)

3. General information and/or pages of links to relevant sites

• The wikipedia page: background and historical information, also on wikibooks.
• Links to various information at fortranplus.co.uk.
• Discussion of Fortran90 versus C++ for scientific programming.
• Advantages of Fortran compared to C for scientific programming.
• Why physicists still use Fortran

4. Unix tutorials (if using MacOS, Linux, Windows+Cygwin or WSL)

• At Brown University
• At Indiana University
• At Surrey University

Provisional schedule (including exercises)

For files go to the MOODLE site