Which is the best Fortran compiler? We’re often asked that question, but there is no single answer. All compilers have strong and weak points, and your choice should depend on finding the best match between your requirements and a compiler’s strengths. In professional environments, it probably makes sense to make use of two or more compilers, with different strengths – e.g. one for the best run-time performance, and another for superior bug-hunting capabilities. Using more than one compiler also make it less likely that you will become over-dependent on details of a single vendor’s implementation.
To help our customers make informed decisions, we have compiled a series of charts comparing the main contenders. The version numbers of the compilers used in these comparisons are listed in the Benchmark Tables.
Compare Windows Compilers
- Language – What extensions to standard Fortran do the compilers support?
- Diagnostic Capabilities – Can they spot programming errors?
- Fortran Execution Time Benchmarks (64-bit Windows 7 on Intel processor) – 17 Fortran benchmarks
- Fortran Execution Time Benchmarks (64-bit Windows 7 on AMD processor) – 17 Fortran benchmarks
Compare Linux Compilers
- Language – What extensions to standard Fortran do the compilers support?
- Diagnostic Capabilities – Can they spot programming errors?
- Fortran Execution Time Benchmarks (Linux64 on Intel processor) – 17 Fortran benchmarks
- Fortran Execution Time Benchmarks (Linux64 on AMD processor) – 17 Fortran benchmarks
Historic Benchmark Charts
Download the The Polyhedron Solutions Benchmark Suite.
External link to “Compiler Support for the Fortran 2003 and 2008 Standards” by Ian Chivers & Jane Sleightholme
We’d like to acknowledge the help of many people who have reviewed these tables at various stages in their construction, and made innumerable helpful comments, suggestions and corrections. Any remaining mistakes are, of course, entirely our responsibility; if you see any, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to correct them.
Contact us for further information.