Self Study Guide 2: Programming in Fortran 95
✒️ By Dr. Rachael Padman
Dive into the basics and best practices of Fortran 95 programming with this accessible self-study guide. Dr. Rachael Padman explains everything from variables to modules, making it easy for newcomers and those brushing up on computational physics.
Book Description
“Self Study Guide 2: Programming in Fortran 95” by Dr. Rachael Padman is your hands-on resource for learning one of the foundational languages in scientific computing. This compact, 50-page guide comes straight from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physics, offering a friendly introduction to both programming concepts and good coding habits. Whether you’re a student or a curious coder, this book demystifies Fortran with simple examples, clear explanations, and practical exercises.
Book Overview
This guide covers everything you need to get started with Programming in Fortran 95. It begins with the absolute basicswriting and running your first programand moves through variable types, expressions, loops, and logical controls. You’ll also find sections on input/output, graphics and visualization, functions, subroutines, modules, and numerical precision. The content is structured for self-study, so you can move at your own pace. Advanced topics are marked clearly, letting beginners skip ahead or return when they’re ready.
Why Read This Book
If you’re stepping into computational physics or scientific programming, Fortran is still a powerhouse languageespecially for high-performance computing. This guide doesn’t just throw syntax at you; it emphasizes good programming style, readability, and code that relates directly to physical problems. Dr. Padman’s approachable tone makes even complex topics less intimidating. Plus, the exercises let you practice as you gono dry theory here!
Who This Book Is For
This self-study guide is perfect for undergraduates in physics or engineering who need a practical introduction to Fortran 95. It’s also useful for hobbyists or professionals who want a refresher on scientific programming fundamentals. Prior coding experience helps but isn’t requiredthe book starts from square one and builds up.
What You Will Learn
- The structure of a basic Fortran program and how to compile/run it
- Declaring variables (real, integer, complex, character) and using expressions
- Using loops (do), logical controls (if), and comments to write readable code
- Handling input/output operations efficiently
- Creating clear code that directly relates to physical problems
- Organizing larger programs with functions, subroutines, and modules
- Understanding numerical precision and best practices for scientific calculations
- Plotting data files and visualizing results (even printing graphs as PostScript!)
- Using numerical libraries like NAG for advanced computations
- Avoiding common pitfalls with real-world examples and suggested exercises
If you’re interested in learning other programming languages used in scientific computing, check out our guide to Ada for C and C++ programmers. Or if you’re more into scripting and automation, the Bash Guide pdf by Maarten Billemont is an excellent resource.
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