Is Fortran better than Python for teaching the basics of numerical linear algebra? – Dr. Jean-Christophe Loiseau
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/01/13
The summary of [Wayback/Archive] Is Fortran better than Python for teaching the basics of numerical linear algebra? – Dr. Jean-Christophe Loiseau is:
- 1-based indexing prevents off-by-1 errors
- structure is key, especially these foundations:
- clear begin/end constructs instead of visual clues
- strong typing
- verbose programming languages are easier to learn than non-verbose ones
Modern Fortran helps a lot here and shows that after the initial 13 year gaps between FORTRAN 77 and Fortran 90, and between Fortran 90 and Fortran 2003 (the ANSI Standard Fortran and Fortran 95 in between versions were just minor updates), Modern Fortran has come a very long way and now as a thriving community and an extensive list of Fortran software and tools.
Other typed languages and tool sets like C# and Delphi come to mind here as well though you need libraries with 1-based data structures to solve the first point.
Python is still hard to get into, especially when digging deeper than a small project: project and package management for most people is still tough despite progress having been made on this front. You absolutely need to undrstand and use a virtual environment and package manager before starting with Python, but there is no single widely accepted tool for both: that world is severely fragmented. See for instance:
- [Wayback/Archive] xkcd: Python Environment
The Python environmental protection agency wants to seal it in a cement chamber, with pictorial messages to future civilizations warning them about the danger of using sudo to install random Python packages.
- [Wayback/Archive] Python package management system is so confusing!!! : learnpython with for instance this comment:
Python package management is currently a mess, but it gets better.
Mostly it’s a three step process:
- Create a Python virtual environment with
python3 -m venv NAME. - Activate your virtual environment with
source NAME/bin/activate. - Install your required package with
pip install PACKAGE.
This does the job and then you can use it.
You need a virtual environment to have a separate directory district from your system installation. Whatever you do in the venv doesn’t influence the system.
The other tools are variations or focus on a specific part of Python. Forget them for the time being.
What is a game changer is Astral’s uv. If you understand the above steps, try to use that. It gives you more flexibility and speed.
- Create a Python virtual environment with
- [Wayback/Archive] Ask HN: Why is Python package management still a dumpster fire? | Hacker News with this:
You have to get these things right early-on, and get everyone on the same page. Once things start to get fragmented, once you have historical decisions that prevent you from improving certain aspects, etc, there’s only so much you can do to after the fact to paper over the gaps.
Python’s packaging story is rotten in its bones. I think at this point it’s nearly impossible to fix (though many continue to try). - [Wayback/Archive] Python Package Manager Comparison 📦 – DEV Community
- [Wayback/Archive] UV Killed pip Just Now: Is This the End of pip as We Know It? | by Souradip Pal | Towards Explainable AI | Medium
--jeroen
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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