08-218r1 To: J3 From: Dan Nagle Subject: Public Comment J32004 Date: 2008 August 11 Commenter from Richard Maine: This is a public comment on the f2008 CD. While I have perused the CD, I have no detailed technical comments at the moment. My only comment is the general one that it is simply too early to be processing the next Fortran standard. I realize that the processing was already somewhat delayed, but insufficiently so in my opinion. To my knowledge, there are no f2003 compilers currently publicly available. I certainly have access to none that implement even a substantial portion of the f2003 standard. I do not think it appropriate to be reviewing a CD for a proposed follow-on standard until there have been multiple f2003 compilers available to the general public for at least a year. A single compiler would provide breadth, both in terms of implementation and user experience. With less than a year of compilers being in user's hands, users have insufficient basis for evaluating what weaknesses in f2003 might need addressing. If the current process continues as scheduled, it appears plausible that there might never be a standard-conforming f2003 compiler during the time frame when the f2003 standard was a current standard. I would interpret that as implying that the f2003 standard was a failure. If so, then it behooves the committee to evaluate the reasons for the failure in order to address them rather than just continuing down the same failed path, adding more features when the existing ones haven't yet been implemented. Even if an f2003 compiler is released between now and the final approval of f2008, I maintain that it would provide insufficient basis for users to evaluate a proposed follow-on language, particularly when that evaluation is required now. Suggesting that user comments can be submitted on the FCD is not, in my opinion adequate response. The FCD is too late in the process for significant decisions about feature selection to be made. Such decisions are more appropriate during preparation and review of the CD. It seems to me that the possible interpretations of the current lack of f2003 compilers fall into one of the following two major categories: 1. The f2003 standard is a failure. In that case the committee should be studying and addressing the reasons for the failure instead of just pressing on. 2. It is just too early to expect full implementations of something as large as f2003. In that case, it is also too early to be proposing a follow-on standard. Both of those possibilities lead to a common conclusion that this is not an appropriate time to be reviewing a CD for a follow-on standard. I don't think a few months delate will change things either, given my guideline of a year of availability of multiple compilers. I might guess that about 2 years from now might be a more sensible time - for a CD, not for final approval of the standard. J3's Response: The schedule and work list for this revision of the Fortran standard were established in 2005; that was the time for suggestions. J3 is unable to change the schedule or to substantially change the work list at this time.