Newsgroups: comp.parallel,comp.parallel.mpi,comp.parallel.pvm
From: lionel@quark.zko.dec.com (Steve Lionel)
Subject: Digital Fortran Beta test users wanted
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Nashua NH
Date: 9 Aug 1996 22:59:25 GMT
Message-ID: <4udh82$do7@zk2nws.zko.dec.com>

Digital Equipment Corporation is looking for users willing to "beta test"
versions of Digital Fortran products on the following platforms:

		Digital UNIX on Alpha systems
		OpenVMS on Alpha systems
		Microsoft Windows NT on Alpha systems
		Microsoft Windows NT on Intel systems
		Microsoft Windows 95 on Intel systems

For all platforms, we would like users who will heavily exercise all aspects of 
the product, including compiling, building, debugging, documentation, and  use
of associated development tools using a large body of source code.  Beta test
users will be required to communicate frequently with the Digital engineering
team and must be willing and able to provide access to source code as necessary
to reproduce problems.  In return, you will gain early access to the new version
of the product and will help influence the development of Digital Fortran. 

On the OpenVMS and Digital UNIX platforms, we will be testing a "minor update"
of the existing Digital Fortran products, which include Digital Fortran 77 and
Digital Fortran 90.  The "theme" for this release will be Fortran 95  support,
along with new and improved optimizations and new compatibility features. 
Digital Fortran 90 on the Digital UNIX platform will also be testing
enhancements to HPF (High Performance Fortran) extensions used for parallel
application development.  Please indicate on the form below if you are
interested in testing these parallel capabilities. Our current schedule is for
testing to begin in September 1996 with a test duration of a minimum of eight
weeks.  For these platforms, testers must be current licensed users of Digital
Fortran and able to retrieve files by FTP over the Internet.

On the Windows NT (Alpha and Intel) and Windows 95 platforms, we will be testing
a new product consisting of Digital's Fortran 90 (with Fortran 95 features)
compiler along with an integrated development environment.  In addition to its
compatibility with existing Digital Fortran products on Alpha (NT, UNIX, and
OpenVMS) and VAX (OpenVMS), the product will be highly compatible with
Microsoft's 32-bit  Fortran product.   If you are interested in testing this
product, please let us  know and we will contact you at the appropriate time.

If you are interested in testing any of these products, please send mail
to mailto:fortran@digital.com including the following information:

	Name
	Title
	Company or organization
	Mailing address
	Telephone number
	E-mail address
	Platform(s) (Alpha NT/VMS/UNIX, Intel NT/W95)  you wish to test
	What Fortran compilers do you currently use on these platform(s)?
	Are you interested in testing HPF parallel capabilities
	  on Digital UNIX?
	Approximate number of lines of source code in your application(s)
	System type(s)
	Number of users who would test the product

Since we anticipate that we will receive more requests for participation than
we can support, we cannot guarantee that all submitters will be admitted
into the testing program.  Thank you for your support of Digital Fortran.

-- 

Steve Lionel                      mailto:lionel@quark.zko.dec.com
Fortran Development               http://www.digital.com/info/slionel.html
Digital Equipment Corporation     
110 Spit Brook Road, ZKO2-3/N30    
Nashua, NH 03062-2698             "Free advice is worth every cent"

For information on Digital Fortran, see http://www.digital.com/info/hpc/fortran/


