This course involves writing, compiling and running Fortran code. You will need to install a Fortran compiler and a text editor on your machine. See the relevant sections of this file for instructions.
The slides, examples and problem sheet are available here. You can look through them before the course if you like, but this is not required.
These courses will take place in an ICT computer room and so laptops are not required. If you do bring a laptop, please make sure it is fully charged.
If you can setup a laptop so you can edit and compile Fortran code this will set you up best for usig Fortran in the long-term. If you do this, bring the laptop along so you can use it to complete the course. See the relevant sections of this file for instructions.
The slides, examples and problem sheet are available here. You can look through them before the course if you like, but this is not required.
Compiling Fortran on your own machine isn’t required for this course, but setting up a machine to edit and compile Fortran code is a useful exercise in itself for using Fortran, and you should attempt this if you can. This section outlines a few options you have and may wish to try before the course. If you have trouble with them, help will be available during the course.
In many cases the goal is to install a version of the Fortran compiler “gfortran”. This is not always straightforward, and it can be difficult to predict problems in advance so the instructions below may not work in all cases. If you have trouble with one method outlined below you may wish to try another.
Linux: Open a terminal and type “sudo apt-get install gfortran” to install the gfortran compiler.
Windows 10/11: Install the Windows subsystem for Linux using these instructions. Install a Ubuntu version of Linux. This will give you a Linux terminal. Then follow the Linux instructions to install gfortran on your Windows computer.
Mac: Follow the instructions here to install gfortran.
Windows: MinGW 2.3.2 can compile Fortran code using gfortran. MinGW is available through the Software Hub via Apps Anywhere. This is instaled by default on all college computers, but cn also be installed on private computers by downloading the AppsAnywhere launcher and streaming MinGW2.3.2.
Mac or Windows: Install VirtualBox on your machine and download a Ubuntu iso file. Use this to install a version of Ubuntu on your system. The instructions here may prove useful. This allows you run Linux virtually inside your computer. Once doing so, follow the Linux instructions.
Any computer: If you can't use any of the above methods to install a Fortran compiler, this repository is setup with a GitHub CodeSpace, enabling you to interact with the course materials on a pre-configured virtual computer on GitHub's servers. To access this, on the main page of the repository, click the green "Code" button, click the "Codespaces" tab and click the "+" to create a new virtual computer. This computer will be prconfigured to allow you to edit and compile Fortran code using VSCode and gfortran. If the Codespace seems to get stuck loading, reloading the page can often fix the problem.
If you would like to complete the course on your own computer you will need an editor to create your source files. I suggest using VSCode but any text editor will be able to edit the source files as they are plain text files. VSCode is also available on the Imperial Software Hub.
These are tips specific to different methods of compiling and running Fortran code. Read the tips relevant for the method you've chosen.
When you open MinGW, you will first need to tell MinGW to look at the contents of your machine's hard drive to be able to find , compile and run Fortran source files. To do this, type cd /c/ to see files stored on your C drive, cd /d/ to see files stored on your D drive and so on.
When you compile a file, the executable produced may gain the extension .exe.. When you run the file, include the extension in the command. For instance, type ./executable_name.exe to run a file with that name.
When you open Windows Subsystem for Linux, you may need to tell it to look at the contents of your machine's hard drive to be able to find , compile and run Fortran source files. To do this, type cd /mnt and press enter. Then type cd c to look at files in your C drive, cd d to look at files in your D drive and so on.
It is easiest to open a folder to work from using File -> Open Folder. Chose the folder where you stored the course materials. You should see the directory structure in the panel on the left. This view will let you open a file by left-clicking; rename or delete a file by right clicking and create a file by right clicking an empty location in the view. To make a Fortran file, give it the extentsion .f90.
When you first open a Fortran file, you may get a message asking if you want to search the marketplace for an extension to help view the file. Say yes and install the "fortran" extension by Xavier Hahn. This will allow syntax highlighting and other useful features which will make it easier to read/write code.
Some basic usage of the command line will be required on this course. Students should read this guide up to and including the section "Changing Directories". You do not need to log on to CX1 as the guide suggests, but should try to follow the commands in the program you are using to run the compiler.
ReCoDE is an collection of exemplar reseach codes created by Imperial students and curated by the RCDS team. This exemplar shows one way Fortran is used in practice, in this case to solve a diffusion problem. It utilises several tools that are beyond the scope of this course - you can ignore these and focus on what we've talked about in this course, or you can attempt to learn about them from the exemplar.