Interval Compiler Design and Implementation
Compiler support for intervals as an intrinsic data type is essential for promoting wide-spread use of interval arithmetic . Our research team is modifying the GNU Fortran Compiler to provide support for interval arithmetic. This research is part of a multi-disciplinary effort to increase the accuracy and reliability of numerical computations through the use of interval arithmetic. By modifying the GNU Fortran Compiler to support intervals as an intrinsic data type, we are providing the following benefits:
- Programmers will be able to develop interval programs for Fortran in an efficient manner.
- Programs developed using the GNU Fortran Compiler will be portable to a variety of different platforms, which will encourage sharing of code and code reuse.
- More people will be exposed to the benefits of interval arithmetic, since the GNU Fortran Compiler is publically available.
- Runtime libraries developed for the GNU Fortran Compiler can be used by other compilers or software packages to allow them to support interval arithmetic.
- The implementation of the GNU Fortran Compiler will provide a good testing ground for the feasibility of the Interval Arithmetic Specification.
- Routines that are designed to test the runtime library routines and the compiler can be used by others to assist them in testing compilers and interval software. This project is funded by a research grant from Sun Microsystems .