FORTRAN compilers

[Bill Dorland]

> I have recently built a small beowulf cluster and am now looking at
> getting a FORTRAN90 compiler.  Can anyone on the list recommend
> which are better for Linux (Redhat 7.2) using mpich (1.2.2.3) ?

I've tested three Fortran 90 compilers in this basic environment, on a
suite of scientific codes.  They are the Portland Group's f90, NAG
f95, and Lahey/Fujitsu's lf95.  I also tried the Portland Group HPF
compiler.  

I have found the Portland Group products to be heavily bug-ridden, and
essentially unusable by a group of scientists that are actively
developing code that uses Fortran 90 (or HPF) features.  Moreover,
carefully constructed bug reports submitted to the company failed to
stir them.  I strongly advise avoiding this company.  My colleagues at
an American national laboratory independently came to the same
conclusions, based on their problems with the PG products.

The other two compilers, on the other hand, are both very good.  My
colleagues and I are fully satisfied with the performance and
compatibility with the Fortran 90/95 standards of both.  I expect that
either would perform well for you.  

I haven't tried Absoft's f90 compiler, but I will do so next week.
Let me know if you are interested in the results.

                                                         --Bill