Hacker News Reader

Engineers are horrified to learn that mathematical modeling is done in a language created in the 50s, but aren't bothered by the fact that the dominant computer interaction model used in the field right now dates back to pre-WW2 teleprinters. Someone is lacking in self- and historic awareness.

What practical problems does Fortran cause when used for numerical computing?

View on HN

Somebody should warn them about avoiding accidentally using Pythagoras theorem, that was introduced 2500 years ago.

Funny

Unlike computer software, mathematical theorems don't suffer from bit rot.

Neither do languages, especially formal ones.

FORTRAN isn't a formal language though.

Of course it is, just like all programming languages. If it weren't formal, a computer couldn't interpret it precisely. Formal means mechanical; a language whose calculus can be carried out by a machine.

Or that the languages they use to express more important things that computer programs all date back much longer than that.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com