1. I am not really sure about this .net stuff, do I have to use it?
Absolutely not. FTN95 can create three types of executables:
| Console applications | A console application is one that runs from a 'Command Prompt' and produces its results just like an old MS DOS program. Lots of Fortran programs do this! |
| Windows applications | A Windows application is like a console application except it displays dialogs and graphics. This is easy with Fortran 95 because of the built in 'ClearWin+' Windows Programming Interface. With ClearWin+ you can produce interactive Windows programs in a few lines. |
| Microsoft .NET applications | In addition to the two 'regular' type applications FTN95 can also produce .NET applications. You must have the .net framework installed on your PC to use it. Creating .net applications is easy with FTN95 - the only true Fortran 95 compiler for .NET available. |
2. Do I have to use Visual Studio .NET?
Absolutely not. There are several ways to create and debug applications with FTN95 - Visual Studio is one of them. Some of the options available are:
| Command Prompt | You can compile, link and debug straight from the 'Command Prompt' just like you used to in MS DOS. This means you can use makefiles if you like (there is even a make utility supplied) or batch files. This style of developing is sometimes thought to be old fashioned - but we disagree. It is quick and very flexible (and it is used by the development team). |
| Plato3 | FTN95 is supplied with Plato3 - an IDE specially designed for FTN95. It will let you edit, compile and link from one application. In addition you can debug your own FTN95 non-.NET applications. |
| Visual Studio | If you have Visual Studio you can edit compile and debug with FTN95 within Visual Studio. Console, Windows or .NET applications can be developed this way. If you want to debug your FTN95 .NET code using a source level debugger then your best options is to use Visual Studio .NET. |
| Other Editors | Using the command line interface you can easily integrate FTN95 into other editors. |
3. If I buy FTN95 and select electronic delivery... what happens?
The order of events is:
There is no need to worry about a download failing, you can retry for 30 days (or more if required).
4. What licensing options are available?
FTN95 is available in three licenced editions:
| Personal | The personal edition is free. You heard that right - free. So what's the catch? It is strictly for personal use or evaluation purposes. You can use it at home on your own personal projects. You can use it to evaluate FTN95 with the intention of purchasing it later. Any applications you create with it will display a banner announcing that it is the personal edition. You can download it here. This product is not supported. |
| Commercial | To use FTN95 in a commercial environment you must have a commercial licence. This includes anyone who uses FTN95 on behalf of a company, for any form of profit or any form commercial gain. In addition, you must purchase a commercial licence if you sell any software created with the personal edition. |
| Academic | The academic licence allows FTN95 to be used in educational establishments for research or teaching purposes. The academic licence has a lower cost than the commercial version. |