Job: Fortran programmer (Windows)

Charles Monk · Post by **Charles Monk** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:49 am

Job: Fortran programmer (Windows)

Are there even any Fortran programmers in Finland? It's hard enough to find Windows developers here.

Our small software development firm would like to hire someone for about two months' work in Q3 2009. It could lead to more work in the future.

We have a project coming up which may require us to repackage some Fortran code (F77 with a bit of F90 mixed in). The repackaging work will involve replacing some C++ COM/ATL wrappers and updating the code to be .NET-compatible. So we need someone who has a good knowledge of the Fortran language, and real-world experience of Windows' grunge work. There may be some refactoring or extension of the Fortran code, but this is largely a re-engineering job, rather than a programming task.

Anyone who knows enough about this to apply for the job will now be thinking "No way! It's the assignment from hell", but I've made it sound much worse than it is. The code has been maintained, and is up to date. It is not badly-structured and we know what it's doing. I think it will be an interesting and fairly satisfying job, bridging between latet-1990's Windows technology and today's.

We offer a comfortable and relaxed working environment and good development tools. The application domain is science and environmental engineering (not finance, military or telecom). Our workplace is about an hour north of Helsinki, and the work would all be done on-site here. Basic English is the only (human) language requirement.

If you're interested, please PM me.

We don't care about your age or your qualifications, but your CV should include some concrete evidence that you'd be able to hit the ground running and make actual progress with this task, viz:

* Real-world experience of developing Fortran code
* Experience of dealing manually with ATL/COM and making it work
* Fluency in C++ and making non-trivial builds
* Experience with .NET (preferably mixed-language, multiple-assembly solutions)

CM.

**Sponsor:**

strutomimus · Post by **strutomimus** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:12 am

Dear Friends:

I am an old enthusiast of Fortran, it was my first programming language back in 1969, Fortran II in those days. Later I worked with Fortran IV and 77. During the 90's used MS Fortran along with MS C++ for Windows. My latest development project with Fortran dates back to 2004. Nowadays, as part time lecturer at a local University, I use Silverfrost's FTN95 along with Visual Studio 2005 in some of my graduate students projects.

As software engineer my portfolio primarily includes C#, Java and VB Net and I'm well acquainted with C/C++. Also ASP's, JScript, Delphi and Perl are included. SQL Server is my main data base, but not the only one.

I'm located at the City of Monterrey in Mexico and willing to develop software anywhere. Please let me know if a Resumé or a Curriculum are on your interest.

Attentively,

Jorge Anaya
strutomimus@hotmail.com
Phone: (81) 8359-1472 Monterrey NL, Mexico

Charles Monk · Post by **Charles Monk** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:53 pm

I've sent you a PM.

Mexico is a long way from Finland, but judging by the responses so far you could be the nearest qualified person.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:19 pm

Charles Monk wrote:Mexico is a long way from Finland, but judging by the responses so far you could be the nearest qualified person.

I can believe it. A Finnish customer had a similar problem finding Cobol programmers. They were working on PCs and - I was surprised to learn - their compiler allowed them to call regular Windows DLLs. I developed some DLLs for them to add functionality to their software without having to change their core code too much, and without me having to know anything about Cobol. Compared to pure Cobol this was an inferior solution as it introduced maintenance complications, but it got them out of a hole. Would a similar approach be possible for you?

Another possibility would be a project/job site like http://www.freelancers.net. Have you tried anything like that?

Incidentally, I am surprised to hear that it is difficult for you to find Windows programmers. Do you think that will change in the current economic situation? What skills are you looking for?

Charles Monk · Post by **Charles Monk** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:19 pm

We could look at freelancers from further afield if we can't find someone locally. I thought we should try Finland first: by chance there might have been someone with some time available over the summer. It's a bit strange to get a response from Mexico, but if the guy is interested enough to respond, then it would be rude not to follow up, eh?

As for Windows, I have the impression (it's only that) that there are hods of people who can do embedded stuff (for phones and similar gizmos), and then a bunch of well-skilled web developers who are mostly LAMP. Students here do some Windows programming projects and loads of Java, but get their hands dirty with Linux, mostly. It's the hands-dirty stuff which pays the salary, though.

We have (interesting) work for .NET developers, preferably VB. To be honest, our recruitment pool is probably limited by our need for really smart people with a generous dollop of motivation, rather than their particular coding language skills. Jobs are usually listed and scanned according to the relevant skill-set, though, so we have to say 'Windows'.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:19 pm

You probably can find Fortran, Cobol and AP/L coders , though the thing is like with me our COBOL is in the mainframe and the interfaces speak with Unix machines, we didn't do "glue sniffing" as much in the big systems, so its HP-UX and Solaris you get with java rather than Windows NT. And of course those people who can Fortran are from the jurassic park and don't speak in tongues.

Charles Monk · Post by **Charles Monk** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:28 pm

The Fortran language is a true dinosaur in the business world, it's true. In science and engineering, it's more of a woolly mammoth /Neanderthal kind of thing.

Then there's this intriguing question of F#. http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/ ... ts/fsharp/. Is that like a Neanderthal in a suit, or a modern man dressed in furs?

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:53 pm

Charles Monk wrote:We could look at freelancers from further afield if we can't find someone locally. I thought we should try Finland first: by chance there might have been someone with some time available over the summer. It's a bit strange to get a response from Mexico, but if the guy is interested enough to respond, then it would be rude not to follow up, eh?

Absolutely.

[/quote]As for Windows, I have the impression (it's only that) that there are hods of people who can do embedded stuff (for phones and similar gizmos), and then a bunch of well-skilled web developers who are mostly LAMP. Students here do some Windows programming projects and loads of Java, but get their hands dirty with Linux, mostly. It's the hands-dirty stuff which pays the salary, though. [/quote]
I know exactly what you mean. It is hard to find people who will pick up a project and run with it, especially if your work is out of the mainstream. Maybe we could be more active in posting opportunities here, or perhaps there is scope for a mutual help group where those of us in this kind of work keep the others informed about the sort of projects we are working on. There may be opportunities for us to work on each others' projects. I know I am always interested in finding new sources of work, and occasionally I could use some help. I don't know Fortran, but almost all of my work is Windows based, so by all means let me know if you have any other requirements.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:59 am

Well the thing is here in Finland people rather hold a "job" so they work for a company that gives them 38 hrs/week rather than go on finding some "projects" that are nonexistant anyways.

Charles Monk · Post by **Charles Monk** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:58 pm

Projects exist, but it's true that a typical sturdy Finn prefers to have a 'real job'. Some are more adventurous and want to do contract work, but they are unusual here, and I'd say that they tend to be more erratic and excitable too. It's like tortoise and hare, eh? Some coding projects require careful, concentrated thought, consistent effort and long-term thinking: surely a job for someone with a tortoise mentality.

@DMC: I'll try to post any Windows work on this forum. You're welcome to send me a CV in any case.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:06 pm

Charles Monk wrote:@DMC: I'll try to post any Windows work on this forum. You're welcome to send me a CV in any case.

Please do. I'll hold off the CV if you don't mind. I haven't done one for years. I prefer to make project-specific proposals where I just include details of relevant past jobs if it helps the particular project. That seems to work better for me - at least I make a living out of those "non-existent" projects.

Charles Monk wrote:Some coding projects require careful, concentrated thought, consistent effort and long-term thinking: surely a job for someone with a tortoise mentality.

I once heard a theory that the ideal character trait for a programmer is compulsive-obsessive. Perhaps not flattering but there is some truth in that.

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