Was this a refereed publication? I'd think the referees (if any) and even
copy editors should take some responsibility for such nonsense appearing in
print.
Copy editors for an ACM publication should at least know how to spell
Fortran vs FORTRAN. (I note that MS Word still complains when I don't use
all caps - but that's Microsoft: their software writers can't be expected to
know anything literary. ACM is supposed to be a "professional society.")
As has been pointed out, the article does contain some kinda useful (but in
no wise original) suggestions about how to write better code (e.g., don't do
it Fortran 66 style) - ideas like this appeared all over the place around
1980 when languages with better control structures were first appearing
(Pascal?). And the suggestions about how not to write comments have nothing
to do with Fortran. The only reason I can see for publishing something like
this, is to pump up the publication count in the author's resume.
An article with so many errors should not even make it into the light of day
far enough for the "Fortran user community" to see it or send in "energetic
rebuttals."
Like, could I write an article about how Napoleon crossed the Delaware on
Christmas 1776 and thrashed the Spanish troops at Trenton PA, and get it
published in a US History journal?
???
Loren
-----Original Message-----
From: Fortran 90 List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
[log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 12:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How Not to Write FORTRAN in Any Language
Dick Russell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Every time there is some commentary on Fortran being a poor choice of
> language, usually by someone who doesn't presently use a current level
> of Fortran for its intended purpose, there is a flurry of energetic
> rebuttal from the Fortran user community. I find all of this fascinating
> and delightful reading. But does anyone know if the author has seen or
> been advised of the vociferous rebuttals to his article in this forum?
> It would be interesting to see his response to what has been said here.
> Would it be appropriate to email him and invite a response? Would he
> respond?
The letter I wrote with this subject, that appeared yesterday in
comp-fortran-90, was also sent to [log in to unmask]
--
Van Snyder | What fraction of Americans believe
[log in to unmask] | Wrestling is real and NASA is fake?
Any alleged opinions are my own and have not been approved or disapproved
by JPL, CalTech, NASA, Sean O'Keefe, George Bush, the Pope, or anybody else.
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