I already gave a pointer to what _I_think_ is the best Fortran 90
compiler for Linux.  This may be the wrong forum for OS discussion,
but I will not let this pass my desktop uncorrected:

[log in to unmask] (Phillip Helbig) writes:
> I can't imagine why any company which sells hardware and software
> for real money in exchange for real work would be interested in
> invading the Linux market.

There are plenty of good reasons to sell Linux software:

1. There are millions of Linux users.  Many of them are young and will
   carry their experiences into the next decades.  Do you want to know how 
   BIG Linux is?  You may find one indication by using www search systems.
   AltaVista word count: linux: 5129819; unix: 5205176; microsoft: 9063305
   Measured this way, Linux is as big as UNIX, more than half as big 
   as Microsoft, and 50 times larger than OS2, but this measure is 
   not quite fair.

2  Linux is technically superior to most other operating systems.
   Do you want to know how SMALL Linux is: 
   wc -l /usr/src/linux/kernel/*.c /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/kernel/*.c
   counts 18837 lines.  Drivers and the windowing system are extra 
   and can be added at run time without need for reboot.
   Networking is particularly well supported.

3. Unlike some competing operating systems, Linux follows available 
   standards where standards are available.  Someone even paid for 
   (and got) POSIX certification of their Linux distribution.  This 
   makes porting programs to Linux very easy --- in other words 
   it is cheap to port commercial products (including compilers) to
   Linux.

4. Linux has become an excellent platform for program development.
   Linux started as a "program-for-fun-project", and it still is.

5. Linux is very flexible, you may run it on NCs, you may run it on
   supercomputers, you may use it for writing letters, controlling your
   dishwasher or even make the Titanic sink into virtual water 
   (ref: http://www.linuxjournal.com/issue46/2494.html), and you 
   could do it simultaneously if you wanted to.  AFAIK, no other 
   OS support more different hardware than Linux.

The fact that there are at least 10 different Fortran compilers and
several hundreds commercial software products available for Linux, is
an indication of that the points I mentioned above are correct, and it
proves that someone "would be interested in invading the Linux market".


> 
> Take a look at 
> 
>    http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html

Unlike physical properties, feelings grow when shared.  GNU groups all
objects which can easily be reproduced into the "feelings" category
and encourages people to share their programs with others.

GNU does not say you _have_to_ give away your programs, but it gives
you both a philosophical and physical reason for doing so.  The
physical reason is that if others modify what you gave away, then
you and others may benefit from the modifications.

I don't see what this has to do with commercial programs, other than
it makes the market share for commersial programs somewhat smaller.


> Still, THE MAJORITY of linux users probably wouldn't pay typical
> compiler prices.  The typical linux user probably doesn't even
> program in Fortran.

Of course the majority don't program in Fortran, many do not program
at all.  Do you think the majority of _Windows_ users program Fortran?
I have no hard numbers, but the total number of Fortran programmers
under Linux may not be too far away from the number under Windows.

-- 
Viggo


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