Fortran is a key programming language used by high performance computing developers. It is the language of choice in many application domains including computational fluid dynamics (including weather and ocean modeling), finite-element analysis, molecular dynamics, and quantum chemistry.

Many popular HPC packages were originally developed in Fortran and continue to be enhanced over time. A Fortran compiler allows developers to program in their native language (Fortran) to recompile these codes to take advantage of new performance and architectural features.

NVIDIA is working with The Portland Group(PGI) to develop a CUDA Fortran Compiler that provides Fortran language support for NVIDIA’s CUDA-enabled GPUs. Fortran developers with data parallel problems will be able to use this compiler to harness the massive parallel computing capability of NVIDIA GPUs to create high performance applications for scientific computing.

The specification of the Fortran language support for CUDA-enabled GPUs will be made available to developers at the International Supercomputing Conference in Dresden, Germany in June 2009. The CUDA Fortran compiler will be added to PGI’s Fortran Compiler in November 2009.

NVIDIA has a long history of embracing and supporting standards, as a wider choice of languages improves the number and scope of applications that can exploit parallel computing on the GPU. With support for the C, Java, and Python languages, the OpenCL and DirectCompute APIs and now Fortran, the performance advantage of GPU Computing is accessible to mainstream developers. NVIDIA is the only processor company to offer this breadth of development environments for the GPU.

Apply to NVIDIA's GPU Computing Registered Developer Program for early access to new releases and more.

Fortran relevant links:

1. PGI CUDA Fortrancompiler
2. Fortran to C for CUDA translator from NOAA
3. Application note on using a Fortranwrapper for CUDA C
4. FLAGON: Fortran 95 libraryfor GPU Numerics