		     ftnchek FAQ   June 26, 1998

This is a very preliminary FAQ.

Q1) Where can I get the latest version of ftnchek?

Q2) Are there any plans for ftnchek to support Fortran 90?

Q3) What other Fortran syntax checkers are there?

Q4) Why is ftnchek not spelled ftncheck?

Q5) What are some sources of Fortran information?

==================================================================

Q1) Where can I get the latest version of ftnchek?

   Many places.  Probably the most reliable place to get it is Netlib,
   whose net address is netlib.org.  The URL is
	       ftp://netlib.org/fortran/ftnchek.tar.gz
   Unlike most software archives, the netlib maintainers keep naming the
   file ftnchek.tar.gz regardless of the version.  But don't worry.  I
   always make sure they have the newest version as soon as it is
   released.

   Ftnchek has its own home page.  The URL is
	     http://www.dsm.fordham.edu/~ftnchek
   This site has current information about the status of the ftnchek
   project, as well as links for downloading the software.  This is
   always the very most up-to-date site, since it is the location
   where ftnchek is maintained.  But the server is old and slow, so if
   you just want the software, you are better off finding a Netlib
   mirror near you.

   Ftnchek has also been placed onto many Linux software archives.
   For instance, it can be found in
	 http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/devel/lang/fortran
   The version on this and other Linux sites is not always the very
   latest, however, since it takes some time for the new version to
   find its way there.


Q2) Are there any plans for ftnchek to support Fortran 90?

   Not at this time.  Basically, I work on ftnchek in my spare time, of
   which I don't have much these days.  At the present level of effort,
   only relatively minor, incremental improvements and bug fixes can be
   done.  Supporting Fortran 90 would be a big task.

   On the bright side, Fortran 90 itself has many features to help avoid
   the pitfalls that ftnchek was designed to catch.

   Also, there are other static analyzer programs that do understand
   Fortran 90 (see Q3).  Unfortunately they are not free, however.


Q3) What other Fortran syntax checkers are there?

   Here are a few I happen to have URL's for.  None of them are free.
   They are listed in alphabetical order, with no ranking or endorsement
   implied.

   1. forcheck:
       Forcheck Group
       Leiden University
       P.O. Box 9604
       2300 RC Leiden
       the Netherlands
       fax: +31-71-5276782
       Email: forchk@rullf2.LeidenUniv.nl
       URL: http://www.medfac.leidenuniv.nl/forcheck/

   2. FORTRAN-lint (flint and flint90)
       IPT Corporation
       1076 East Meadow Circle
       Palo Alto, California 94303
       Phone: (650) 494-7500 and (800) 944-5468.
       FAX: (650) 494-2758.
       Email: sales@iptcorp.com
       URL: http://www.iptweb.com/tools/stdprod/flint/flint.html

   3. Forwarn
       Quibus Enterprises, Inc.
       3340 Marble Terrace
       Colorado Springs, CO 80906 USA
       +1-719-527-1384
       URL: http://kumo.swcp.com/fortran/quibus_forwarn.html

   Note: forcheck and flint90 support Fortran 90.


Q4) Why is ftnchek not spelled ftncheck?

   Originally, ftnchek was named forchek, which seemed like a spiffy
   name at the time.  However, the Forcheck people (See Q3) objected
   (rightly) that the two names were sufficiently similar to cause
   confusion.  Since their program was first on the scene, mine had to
   be renamed.  So I changed "for" to "ftn," and continued leaving the
   "c" out of the name so as to increase the difference between it and
   Forcheck.

   By the way, you may pronounce the name any way you like.  Personal-
   ly, I usually pronounce it "Eff-Tee-En-Chek."


Q5) What are some sources of Fortran information?

   The Fortran-FAQ, posted occasionally to comp.lang.fortran, is full
   of useful information.  The Fortran Market has links to many
   sources of information on the World-Wide-Web.  Its URL is
		   http://www.fortran.com/fortran/


==================================================================

Bob Moniot
Fordham University
Fordham College at Lincoln Center
New York, NY  10023  (212) 636-6311

Email: moniot@mary.fordham.edu
URL:   http://dsm.fordham.edu/~moniot/
