HP Releases HP Fortran 90 Compiler; Produces Optimized Code for Superior System Performance

Business Wire, Nov 11, 1996

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1996--Continuing its commitment to provide reliable, industry-standard-compliant software-development tools, Hewlett-Packard Company today announced the release of an advanced compiler -- HP Fortran 90.

This compiler has been designed to produce highly optimized code that will run across the entire spectrum of HP's high-performance computing portfolio -- from HP workstations to HP 9000 and Exemplar servers.

Designed to execute on HP-UX 10.20, 10.10, 10.01 and SPP-UX, HP Fortran 90 unlocks the potential of HP's PA-RISC architecture. In addition, it has been optimized for PA-8000-based systems to produce superior run-time performance. Fortran code is suited to engineering applications involving compute-intensive numeric and scientific calculations. The release of HP Fortran 90 is expected to appeal to developers working in mechanical CAD/CAE in the automotive, aerospace, defense and utilities industries, as well as at universities and research institutes.

"HP Fortran 90 offers significant new features, not the least of which is scalability," said Dr. S. Hoesl, department manager of data processing for Siemens KWU BT. "Now we can both develop and deploy code on HP workstations and servers from the low to the high end. We gain an excellent return on the time we've invested in developing our code."

To ensure that HP Fortran 90 meets the highest product-quality standards, including robust, enterprise-level operation, more than 30,000 tests, sample programs and applications were run daily during beta testing.

"Today's announcement is a clear response to our customers' requirements for flexibility in code development and deployment," said Bill Russell, general manager of HP's Technical Computing Business Unit. "We're also ensuring investment protection for customers choosing upgrades to PA-8000 systems."

HP FORTRAN 77-COMPATIBLE, STANDARDS-COMPLIANT

The HP Fortran 90 compiler eases migration from ANSI Fortran 77 code. Since both compilers share the same I/O libraries, developers can "mix and match" HP Fortran 90 binary code with existing HP Fortran 77 code. This allows developers to reuse portions of their HP Fortran 77 applications while leveraging new HP Fortran 90 functionality.

HP Fortran 90 supports the full ANSI and ISO standard for easy portability in compiling applications written in Fortran 90. HP has incorporated recent interpretations of the Fortran 90 standard and includes popular extensions, such as Cray pointers, INTEGER*8, (a) REAL*16 (a) and VAX/VMS structures.

DEBUGGING FACILITY AND HP PAK PERFORMANCE ANALYZER

To deliver maximum efficiency for programmers, HP has significantly enhanced its HP DDE debugger. This powerful, graphical-task-oriented tool provides full debugging functionality for HP Fortran 90 -- including the powerful ability to debug optimized code. Optimized code can be mapped to source code so that variables can be viewed easily. Developers can set breakpoints on lines of code and single-step through lines of code based either on source-statement ordering or on the execution order of semantically significant operations. On HP Exemplar systems, HP Fortran 90 supports the popular HP CXdb debugger.

When detailed performance tuning is required, HP PAK performance analyzer graphically provides high-level or detailed metrics, such as system and user CPU time, page faults, swaps, messages and signals in clear and user-friendly graphical formats. Application developers may quickly review application behavior, identify performance bottlenecks and implement enhancements. On HP Exemplar systems, HP Fortran 90 supports CXpa for enhanced tuning of parallel computing.

LICENSING, U.S. PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Included with HP Fortran 90 is an ANSI/ISO-compliant Fortran 90 compiler, as well as debugger, performance analyzer, incremental linker and programming utilities. Both workstation and HP 9000 server user licenses are priced at $1,495 per user license. The HP exemplar server user license is priced at $3,000.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 110,800 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Additional information on HP's technical workstation and server solutions is available on the Internet through the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/workstations.> Additional information on HP Fortran 90 is available at http://www.hp.com/go/hpfortran. -0- (a) Note To Editors: In the products noted in this news release, INTEGER*8 and REAL*16, there is an asterisk which is part of the actual product name. This asterisk symbol may not appear properly in some systems.

CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company

Heidi Wilson, 508/436-5096

email: wilson_h@apollo.hp.com

or

Copithorne & Bellows for HP

Kathy Madison, 617/450-4300 x257

email: kathy.madison@cbpr.com