comp.sys.mac.advocacy

Maverick wrote:
> Snit wrote:
>> >>
>> ilds_continue_from_apple.html>
>> -----
>> Particular emphasis appears to have been placed on Spaces,
>> they say, where new tweaks target the feature's preference
>> pane, hot keys activation, and general functionality.
>> -----
>>
>> Excellent... and very much needed!
>>
>
> I may as well add my needs to the wish list:
>
> A true source code checker aka lint.
> Sun has it, why doesn't Apple?
> In my case it won't be for original code but for bringing in old code
> written by other people. I've seen some rather strange coding to get
> something easy done and have had to rewrite the code in some areas. Lint
> would help in spotting problem areas.

You can find lint for a number of different languages for Mac OS X.
I agree with you, though,

>
> Another item is where is Fortran, the engineers choice?
> Fortran 2003 is here but I don't see it, unless you pay a stiff price
> for it.

Also available, both free and for pay. The Intel FORTRAN compiler
is available for MacOS X from Intel or from Apple. Here's a source
for "free as in beer" FORTRAN....
http://hpc.sourceforge.net/

I can think of a reason why FORTRAN is not part of Apple's
developer tools. It does not have general interest to developers
because most developers do not develop apps in FORTRAN except for
their own use. Prior to my retirement two years ago, I had spent
almost thirty years as a software developer. The last projects for
which I used any FORTRAN were in the 80s......one a database
management system (pre relational) and the other for a realtime
SCADA system. These are not projects that would ever be developed
on a Mac. I see your point about the desirability of FORTRAN but
I could see Apple's position as relevant.