Additional software requirements:
download, installation and further tips
Fortran compiler:
In order to properly profit from the course, it is highly convenient to have a Fortran compiler installed in your computer.
If you have a Linux PC or a Mac then most likely (99%CL) you already have a Fortran compiler like, e.g. gfortran. Open a terminal a try writing a small "Hello World!" program, compile it and run it following the indications provided in this link. [Remember: if you use the Fortran77 extension .f instead of the Fortan90 one .f90, then the first 8 columns are special and must be left blank -at least for this simple first example-]
WINDOWS
Otherwise, if you have a Windows system then you have several alternatives:
Option 1.) Create a Virtual Machine with a Linux system:
- Download and install e.g. the VM Box software from this Oracle link. This will allow us to recreate an empty computer within our computer.
- Download e.g. the Ubuntu Linux system installer from this link. Click on " Download 22.04.4 LTS ISO image, 4.7GB " to download the ISO file with the image of the installer.
Notice: this is a 5GB file so it can take long to download; do not wait till you are at class to get the file!!!
- Open now VM-Box and create a new virtual computer. Create it with the necessary CPU, RAM and disk to run the Mathematica codes. $ cores, 8 GB and a 25 GB disk should be in principle enough. You will also be required to provide the ISO file with installer of the system you would like to install in your virtual computer. Use the ubuntu-22.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso you previously downloaded.
- Within VM-Box, now switch on your newly created virtual computer. Note that it can take a while to complete the installation the first time you boot (as it happens with a standard computer). Furthermore, it may take some time to update the installed software to the last versions.
Option 2.) Install a Windows-native Fortran compiler:
- A simple alternative is e.g. the use of MinGW, a software that replicates the most common Linux system commands.
- We have found very useful the following website from Facultad de Informática UCM (link). Therein, there is a dedicated entry for the MinGW installation: click on this link.
- Therein you are led to the SourFORGE MinGW webstsite, where you have to click on " Download Latest Version mingw-get-setup.exe (86.5 kB) ".
Option 3.) Install a native Linux subsystem in your Windows 10/11:
- For Windows 10 (and actually optimized for Windows 11) has a native Linux system: WSL (link)