Fortran Analysis, Engineering
& Migration
SimCon can migrate legacy Fortran systems to modern hardware. This results in a significant saving in maintenance costs, and,
far more importantly, removes the need to train staff on obsolete operating systems and environments.
Our capabilities in Fortran migration include:
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Code conversion: fpt automatically carries out most of the code conversions required.
These vary from simple keyword substitutions to structural re-engineering.
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System Library Emulation: Many legacy migrations are from OpenVMS to Linux or Unix. SimCon works closely
with Sector7 Inc. to migrate OpenVMS code. Sector7
has a very complete API for emulation of the VMS system libraries and of OpenVMS DCL for Linux and Unix. This
includes handlers for ISAM files and for Oracle Pro*FORTRAN constructs.
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Regression testing: Our tools, and our migration strategies are designed for testing of the migrated
system. An important issue in all migrations is to know that the migrated code accurately reproduces the
original behaviour.
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Hardware interfacing and communications: We have experience in, and tools for analysing and converting between
HSD, 1553 and Ethernet interfaces. The interfacing of processors and devices is often one of the most
difficult challenges in converting an existing simulation or instrument control system.
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Familiarity with the operating environments: We have used Gould-SEL and VMS systems extensively, and have
experience of other legacy hardware. It is often important to analyse code and to capture test data in the original
environment before migration is carried out.
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Documentation: A migrated system may have new or different operating procedures. We can revise or
develop operators' manuals, and create the necessary documentation for ongoing system maintenance.
SimCon has carried out extensive code quality audits. Sometimes these are motivated by the ISO 9000 process,
sometimes because our customers, particularly in commercial aerospace, simply wish to ensure the quality
of their design codes.
The analyses go far beyond analysis of syntactic and semantic correctness. Our tools search for maintenance
traps, and analyse the extent of commenting and meaningfulness of variable names. Major companies make an
enormous investment in engineering software. We can help ensure the quality of the investment