Simply Fortran 3.28 Now Available

Simply Fortran version 3.28 is now available for all supported platforms from Approximatrix. This release introduces new features and bug fixes for the development environment and Windows compiler. The development environment now features "Scratch Pads," accessible via the File menu or by pressing F4 (or Shift+F4 to open an existing Scratch Pad). Scratch Pads are temporary files completely managed by Simply Fortran for quickly storing code segments, evaluating algorithms, or simply taking notes. Quicker and more flexible than using "Untitled" files, Scratch Pads provide a quick and simple code storage method.

The code editor now supports automatic line continuation for both fixed- and free-format Fortran source code. By default, when a line exceeds the language's line limit, Simply Fortran will now automatically wrap the line, inserting the appropriate syntactical markers where necessary. The editor is aware of pre-existing continuations as well, and will attempt to maintain consistent formatting. If users wish to enforce an alternative wrapping column, the value can be set in the Appearance and Behavior Options window under the "Language Features category.

The development environment received an assortment of bug fixes. The Reset to Head Git operation now works as expected. Renaming a file in the Project Outline will now work correctly if the file does not yet exist. On Windows, stray close buttons from tabs not currently visible should no longer appear.

On Windows, the compiler now supports Link Time Optimization. This user-requested feature is accompanied by an upgraded GNU Binutils build to accommodate the feature. Link Time Optimization can be enabled in Project Options under the "Code Generation" category. The upgraded GNU Binutils will also attempt to delete executable and shared library targets on Windows prior to writing them in an attempt to appease certain virus scanners.

The development environment on Windows will now also detect "Permission Denied" errors during the linking phase, notifying users of the possible issue. When encountered, the development environment will now check if the executable is already running and alert the user. If the executable is not currently running, a warning about possible virus scanner interference, a common issue with consumer-grade virus solutions, will be presented. The latter may be mitigated, however, by the changes to the linker included in the Binutils upgrade.

Text entry boxes in the AppGraphics, available only on Windows, now support setting cue text. Cues will allow specification in a lighter color of the expected information for a given text box.

The latest version is available from the Download page for Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux.