A Fortran compiler efficiency meter with application to the improvement of program speeds at the source level

This paper discusses the optimization and efficiency of FORTRAN programs. Efficiency and opJmization can be affected by a number of different techniques. A list of some of these techniques is compiled and discussed. These techniques are divided into compiler oriented and source oriented methods. To aid in the optimization of existing programs at the source level, a "compiler meter" is devised. It is composed of nineteen different FORTRAN tasks. Each task is coded in from two to four alternate ways. By running this meter on a given compiler, it can be determined which optimization techniques are employed by the compiler. Further, it can be determined which techniques will result in the greatest improvement in run time efficiency to existing FORTRAN programs.