Lahey Introduces PC Fortran to Fully Meet 90 International Standard

Fortran 90 combines advanced front end with Intel Pentium code generator

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., Oct. 4, 1994 - Lahey Computer Systems, Inc., today
announced that it is now shipping its new LF90 Fortran 90 programming
software that combines Lahey's advanced front end with an Intel code
generator optimized for the Pentium processor.

This fast, robust 32-bit Fortran language system, which represents more
than 20 person-years of development effort, adheres to all specifications
of the Fortran 90 standard. This standard, established by an international
body of experts supersedes the earlier FORTAN 77 standard established in
1978.

The Lahey LF90 Fortran is a complete implementation of the ANSI/ISO Fortran
90 standard. It is not a 77 compiler with just a few 90 features nor does
it use a translator to support 90 features. Using its proprietary
"Caterpillar" parser technology, Lahey has incorporated the entire 90
Standard in a native compiler.

"With its adherence to the global Fortran 90 Standard and increased speed
over earlier Fortrans for the PC, Lahey's LF90 has become the premier
Fortran language system for programmers writing new Fortran code or
downsizing applications from mainframes or minicomputers to personal
computers," said Guy Ceragioli, vice president of marketing for Lahey.

Fortran is one of the most widely used programming languages, and is
particularly strong in the engineering and scientific communities because
of its portability and because it is ideal for writing computationally
intensive applications. By adhering to the ANSI Standard, users know they
can move their programs to any platform with a supporting compiler. The
Fortran 90 Standard includes the 77 Standard, 77 extensions and new modern
language features. With LF90, Fortran users have gained new freedom and
flexibility in coding without losing portability.

In developing its new Fortran 90, Lahey focused on improving the "front
end" visible to users, and turned to Intel Corporation for its highly
optimized code generation technology to create the executable code.

The result is a very fast product. Running on a 90-MHz Pentium computer,
Lahey LF90 Fortran produces 18.08 Mflops on a Single Precision Linpack,
faster than any FORTRAN 77 or any other Fortran 90 running on a personal
computer. While optimized for Intel's Pentium microprocessor, the product
also runs on earlier 386 and 486 microprocessors.

The front end of the product uses Lahey's proprietary "Caterpillar" parser
technology, which automatically generates code that is then interfaced to
the Intel back end. The new LF90 Fortran includes such features as common
optimizations plus instruction scheduling, loop unrolling, loop
interchange, loop distribution, strip mining and pre-loading, loop
blocking, and alternate loops.

* New source form allows lines of 132 characters and 31
  characters in a name
* Derived types (structures) permit users to organize and
  combine data more intuitively
* Pointers facilitate modern data structures such as lists
  and trees
* Array expressions reduce complicated DOS loops to a single
  statement
* Allocatable arrays avoid running out of memory by allocating
  memory at runtime.
* 75 new intrinsics speed programming Internal procedures reduce
  the number of external routines in programs
* Kind function allows programmers to specify numeric precision.
* Modules enable the user to package data and code for shared use
  among programs.
* Modules may contain type specifications, interface blocks,
  executable code, and references to other modules.

To provide Fortran users with a proven programming environment, Lahey LF90
Fortran includes the same suite of development tools found in its popular
extended 32-bit FORTRAN 77F7 7L-EM/32 language system: editor, debugger,
profiler, make utility, librarian and video graphics.

The product also includes Phar Lap's runtime-free TNT DOS-Extender. By
providing compatibility with Windows and OS/2, the INT DOS-Extender allows
users to run LF90 Fortran in a DOS session of OS/2 or in a DOS box under
Windows. For those interested in linking C routines into their Fortran
programs, LF90 provides support for MetaWare's High C/C++ compiler.

The LF90 Fortran documentation includes a User's Guide, Language Reference,
and Editor reference card. To help programmers write code that adheres to
the 90 Standard, the Language Reference highlights extensions in blue.

The product requires a 386-based system with math coprocessor, or a 486 or
Pentium computer with DOS 3.3 or later, 8 MB RAM and 12 MB disk space.

The suggested list price of Lahey LF90 Fortran 90 is $895 U.S. Owners of
Lahey's EM/32 language system can upgrade to LF90 before January 31, 1995,
for $595. All Lahey products include a 30-day money-back guarantee and
free unlimited technical support.

Founded in 1967, Lahey Computer Systems specializes in the design and
production of Fortran language systems and development tools for
scientists, engineers and professional programmers. Along with Lahey
Fortran 90, Lahey also markets three FORTRAN 77 language systems: Lahey
Personal Fortran, Lahey F77L FORTRAN 77 and Lahey F77L-EM/32 extended
FORTRAN 77.

Lahey Computer Systems, Inc., is at 865 Tahoe Blvd., Box 6091, Incline
Village, NV 89450, USA. Telephone (800) 548 4778 or (702) 831-2500. Fax
(702) 831-8123. Internet: sales@Lahey.com.

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