Book
Numerical Recipes in Fortran 90: The Art of Parallel Scientific Computing
📖 Overview
Numerical Recipes in Fortran 90 presents algorithms and computational methods for scientific computing using the Fortran 90 programming language. The book serves as a comprehensive reference for programmers and scientists working on numerical problems in physics, engineering, and applied mathematics.
The text covers fundamental topics including linear algebra, interpolation, integration, differential equations, and random number generation. Each algorithm is presented with implementation details, practical considerations, and relevant mathematical background.
The focus on parallel computing sets this edition apart from earlier versions in the Numerical Recipes series. The code examples take advantage of Fortran 90's array operations and modular programming features to achieve better performance on modern computing architectures.
This volume represents a bridge between theoretical numerical analysis and practical scientific programming, emphasizing both mathematical rigor and computational efficiency. The work continues to influence how scientific calculations are implemented in research and industry settings.
👀 Reviews
Most readers see this as a reference book for scientific programming rather than a tutorial text. Reviews note the comprehensive coverage of algorithms and parallel computing techniques.
Liked:
- Clear explanation of numerical methods and algorithms
- Inclusion of ready-to-use Fortran 90 code
- Detailed discussion of parallelization approaches
- Good index and cross-referencing
Disliked:
- Code examples considered outdated by modern standards
- High price point mentioned in multiple reviews
- Some algorithms not optimized for performance
- Dense mathematical explanations without enough context
Ratings:
Amazon: 3.9/5 (12 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (8 ratings)
One reader on Amazon noted: "The code is clear but could be more efficient. Still useful for understanding the mathematical concepts."
A Goodreads reviewer commented: "More theoretical than practical. Good mathematical foundation but requires significant adaptation for modern applications."
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔬 The book is part of a highly influential series that began in 1988 with "Numerical Recipes in C," which became one of the most cited books in scientific literature.
📊 Fortran 90 represented a major evolution from earlier Fortran versions, introducing array operations that made scientific computing code dramatically more concise and readable.
🎓 Author Saul Teukolsky is not only a computer scientist but also an astrophysicist who has made significant contributions to black hole physics and gravitational wave research.
💻 This version specifically addresses parallel computing techniques, which became crucial as scientific computing moved from single-processor to multi-processor systems in the 1990s.
🔋 The book includes over 100 ready-to-use subroutines for scientific computing, each thoroughly tested and optimized for numerical stability and efficiency.