The inside cover or preface likely thanks a committee. Behind that is a fascinating story. By 1977, there were dozens of Fortran dialects (DEC, IBM, CDC, Honeywell). The 1977 standard was a brutal compromise.
This is the most common question. When Fortran 90, 95, 2003, and 2018 exist, why study the 1978 standard (Fortran 77)?
The answer lies in legacy code and simplicity. Schaum--39-s Outline Of Programming With Fortran 77 Pdf
Do not just read the PDF. Type every solved problem manually.
Pro tip from the PDF: The -std=legacy flag allows gfortran to accept classic Fortran 77 features (like fixed-form source lines where column 7-72 matter). The inside cover or preface likely thanks a committee
Fortran 77’s power lies in its array handling. The DIMENSION statement and the DO loop are covered in exhaustive detail.
Authored by Seymour Lipschutz and Arthur Poe, this book is part of McGraw-Hill’s famous Schaum’s Outlines series. Unlike verbose narrative textbooks, Schaum’s Outlines are designed for rapid mastery. They focus on solved problems—typically over 1,000 of them. Pro tip from the PDF: The -std=legacy flag
| Feature | Schaum’s F77 | Modern Fortran book (e.g., Metcalf, Reid, Cohen) | |---------|--------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Standard | Fortran 77 (fixed form) | Fortran 90/95/2003+ (free form) | | Problems | Many solved problems | Fewer problems, more concepts | | Arrays | Fixed-size only | Allocatable, array sections, whole array ops | | Subprograms | External only | Internal, module, pure, elemental | | Modern usage | Legacy maintenance only | New scientific code |
The physical copy has been out of print for years. Used copies on Amazon or AbeBooks often sell for upwards of $70 to $150. Consequently, students and professionals turn to the digital format – the Schaum's Outline of Programming With Fortran 77 Pdf – because it is searchable, portable, and often the only accessible copy of a lost academic treasure.