December 2020 newsletter draft

_posts/2020-12-01-Fortran-Newsletter-December-2020.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "Fortran newsletter: December 2020"
+category: newsletter
+author: Milan Curcic, Jérémie Vandenplas, Laurence Kedward, Gary Klimowicz, Ondřej Čertík
+---
+
+Welcome to the December 2020 edition of the monthly Fortran newsletter.
+The newsletter comes out at the beginning of every month and details
+Fortran news from the previous month.
+
+<ul id="page-nav"></ul>
+
+## fortran-lang.org
+
+This month we've had a few updates to the website:
+
+* [#156](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org/pull/156):
+Updates to the mini-book on building Fortran programs, including the addition of
+short guides on Meson and CMake.
+You can read the mini-book [here](https://fortran-lang.org/learn/building_programs).
+* [#169](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org/pull/169):
+Add PSBLAS to the package index.
+
+Ongoing work:
+
+* [#160](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org/pull/160) (WIP):
+In-depth introduction for Fortran with Make.
+
+[Let us know](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org/issues) if you have any suggestions for the website and its content.
+We welcome any new contributors to the website and the tutorials page in particular - see the [contributor guide](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) for how to get started.
+
+## Fortran Standard Library
+
+Here's what's new in `stdlib`:
+
+* [#239](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/239): Implementation of bitsets in `stdlib_bitsets`.
+* [#243](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/243),
+  [#245](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/245),
+  [#252](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/253),
+  [#255](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/255): Various improvements to `stdlib_logger`.
+* [#245](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/245),
+  [#250](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/250): Minor fixes to the CI.
+
+Work in progress:
+
+* (WIP) [#240](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/240): Implementation of the `stdlib_stats_distribution` module. It provides probability distribution and statistical functions.
+* (WIP) [#189](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/pull/189): Initial implementation of sparse matrices.
+
+Don't hesitate to test and review these pull requests!
+
+Otherwise, ongoing discussions continue:
+* [#220](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/issues/220): API for file system operations: directory manipulation
+* [#241](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/issues/241): Include a `split` function (202X feature)
+* [#254](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib/issues/254): Proposition to add a logger for debug phases and levels among the different logs.
+
+The candidate for file system operations to be included in stdlib is being developed by
+[@MarDiehl](https://github.com/MarDiehl) and [@arjenmarkus](https://github.com/arjenmarkus)
+in [this repository](https://github.com/MarDiehl/stdlib_os).
+Please try it out and let us know how it works, if there are any issues, or if the API can be improved.
+
+## Fortran Package Manager
+
+Here's what's new in `fpm`:
+
+* [#259](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/259): Update the instructions for building from source in README.md.
+* [#246](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/246): Automated binary releases in CI.
+* [#233](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/233): Allow linking with external libraries.
+* [#224](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/224): Add a reference document for the package manifest (fpm.toml).
+* [#221](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/221),
+  [#239](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/239): Runner options for test and app executables.
+* [#220](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/220): Implement compiler and flags settings in Haskell fpm.
+* [#209](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/209):
+  [#237](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/237): Developer API docs.
+* [#216](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/216),
+  [#225](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/225),
+  [#226](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/226),
+  [#229](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/229),
+  [#236](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/236),
+  [#240](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/240),
+  [#247](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/240): Other fixes and improvements.
+
+Work in progress:
+
+* [First beta release](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/milestone/1) (WIP): First feature-complete release of the Fortran implementation.
+* (WIP) [#230](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/230),
+        [#261](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/261): Specification of the fpm CLI.
+* (WIP) [#232](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/232): Allowing the `extra` section in fpm.toml.
+* (WIP) [#248](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/248): Refactor backend for incremental rebuilds.
+* (WIP) [#251](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/251): Dependency management.
+* (WIP) [#255](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/255): Setting the compiler and specifying test or app target.
+* (WIP) [#257](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/257): Implement `fpm install`.
+* (WIP) [#260](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/pull/260): Fix CI to test release build.
+
+`fpm` is still in early development and we need as much help as we can get.
+Here's how you can help today:
+
+* Use it and let us know what you think! Read the [fpm packaging guide](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/blob/master/PACKAGING.md) to learn how to build your package with fpm, and the [manifest reference](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/blob/master/manifest-reference.md) to learn what are all the things that you can specify in the fpm.toml file.
+* Browse the [open issues](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm/issues) and see if you can help implement any fixes or features.
+* Adapt your Fortran package for fpm and submit it to the [Registry](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm-registry).
+* Improve the documentation.
+
+The short-term goal of fpm is to make development and installation of Fortran packages with dependencies easier.
+Its long term goal is to build a rich and decentralized ecosystem of Fortran packages and create a healthy
+environment in which new open source Fortran projects are created and published with ease.
+
+## Compilers
+
+### Classic Flang
+
+We continue to evaluate and merge pull requests into Classic Flang. Recently merged pull requests into Classic Flang include:
+* [PR#883: Flang generated executable does not show result variable of function](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/883)
+* [PR#933: Updating X-flag entries for internal command line option "-x 49"](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/933)
+* [PR#939: Publish Arm's internal documentation](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/939)
+* [PR#941: [DebugInfo] Internal subprogram variable is not accessible for printing in gdb](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/941)
+* [PR#942: Implement UNROLL(n) directive](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/942)
+* [PR#943: Enable github Actions for push to master and pull requests to master](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/943)
+* [PR#945: libpgmath: Stop using pgstdinit.h](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/945)
+* [PR#946: Call check_member() for PD_is_contiguous](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/946)
+* [PR#951: Fix for ICE in atomic instruction generation](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang/pull/951)
+
+Pull requests merged into the supporting projects:
+* [classic flang LLVM monorepo PR#5: [Driver] Reduce downstream delta](https://github.com/flang-compiler/classic-flang-llvm-project/pull/5)
+* [classic flang LLVM monorepo PR#6: Removing a few CI pipelines](https://github.com/flang-compiler/classic-flang-llvm-project/pull/6)
+* [classic flang LLVM monorepo PR#7: Github Actions added to pre-compile artifacts for flang](https://github.com/flang-compiler/classic-flang-llvm-project/pull/7)
+* [llvm mirror PR#87: Enable github actions for llvm](https://github.com/flang-compiler/llvm/pull/87)
+* [flang-driver PR#94: Enable github actions](https://github.com/flang-compiler/flang-driver/pull/94)
+
+The Classic Flang biweekly call has been set up to discuss issues and plans
+for the next pull requests to be validated and merged. Our next calls are Wednesday, December 16 and 30, 8:00 AM Pacific time. The notes from previous calls, upcoming agenda and a link to join the call can be found
+[here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-OuiKx4d7O6eLEJDBDKSRnSiUO2rgRR-c2Ga4AkrzOI).
+
+### LLVM Flang
+
+Work continues on LLVM Flang, concentrating on semantics, lowering and runtime. Significant contributions are being made for OpenMP and OpenACC support.
+
+In conjunction with the MLIR-based code from the _fir-dev_ fork (the Fortran IR used for lowering), Flang can compile and run most F77 programs, including the Fortran Compiler Validation Suite (FCVS).
+
+Pat McCormick is (still) working on an RFC for the merge of the lowering code
+in the fir-dev fork into LLVM master. (This was interrupted by Supercomputing 2020 and other ECP duties.) The goal is to expedite this in a way that is acceptable to the Flang community, so we can do further work in the single master branch.
+
+Recent updates include:
+* Johannes Doerfert has created a web page at https://flang.llvm.org; you can find call and Slack logistics there
+* Nichols Romero has an llvm-dev RFC for adding Fortran tests to the llvm-tests project: http://lists.llvm.org/pipermail/llvm-dev/2020-November/146873.html
+* Andzrej Warzynski has a flang-dev RFC regarding flang option names: http://lists.llvm.org/pipermail/flang-dev/2020-November/000588.html
+* Andzrej Warzynski has a cfe-dev RFC regarding refactoring clang to help flang driver become independent of clang: http://lists.llvm.org/pipermail/cfe-dev/2020-November/067263.html
+* Changed representation of CHARACTER data in type system to make more consistent with other types (for arrays)
+* Changed COMPLEX expression representation to provide better handling in lowering
+* More improvements for supporting Fortran 77 programs
+* Implemented runtime support for basic ALLOCATE/DEALLOCATE and further work
+* Continued implementation of table-driven runtime for derived types; posted documentation
+* Continued implementation of array expression lowering
+* Improved error checks on forward references
+* More updates to flang driver (option handling; -E can now be used to invoke just the Flang preprocessor)
+* OpenACC semantic checks for modifiers on enter/exit data, set directives
+* OpenACC lowering (enter/exit data, update, init, shutdown, wait directives)
+* OpenMP structure checker updates; semantic checks for copyin clause; schedule class
+
+
+## Events
+
+* Brian Friesen (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) was selected to be the new Chair of PL22.3 (J3, US Standards Committee).
+Brian will serve in his first term until November 2023. Congratulations, Brian!
+* We had our 6th Fortran Monthly call on November 17.
+You can watch the recording below:
+
+<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/HI-Yhn7Q8Ko" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
+
+As usual, subscribe to the [mailing list](https://groups.io/g/fortran-lang) and/or
+join the [Discourse](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group) to stay tuned with the future meetings.
+
+## Contributors
+
+We thank everybody who contributed to fortran-lang in the past month by
+commenting in any of these repositories:
+
+* [fortran-lang/stdlib](https://github.com/fortran-lang/stdlib)
+* [fortran-lang/fpm](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm)
+* [fortran-lang/fpm-registry](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fpm-registry)
+* [fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org](https://github.com/fortran-lang/fortran-lang.org)
+* [fortran-lang/benchmarks](https://github.com/fortran-lang/benchmarks)
+* [j3-fortran/fortran_proposals](https://github.com/j3-fortran/fortran_proposals)
+
+<div id="gh-contributors" data-startdate="November 01 2020" data-enddate="November 31 2020" height="500px"></div>