Why Favoring Fortran over C/C++?

Zi-Wei Chiou

I am an experienced C/C++ programmer and a novice in CFD. While studying CFD and reading papers, I found most of them are implemented using Fortran 77/90 programming languages. One of the main reason is that in early days Fortran compiler is the only available compiler on most super-computers. Even today, Fortran code is still prevalence in CFD community.

When I asked some friends why they used Fortran instead of C/C++, the answer is: "This is the only programming language I know." Since most CFD student/engineers are usually not ordinary software developers and many numerical library are only available in Fortran.

***** QUESTION: What are the reasons to favor Fortran over C/C++? *****

Learning curve will be not steep for me, but it's a cost to switch to antoher programming language nevertheless - programmging style, debugger (if available) and libraries, etc. I don't have to do this except there are some very good reasons.

Thanks for your help.