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Approximatrix — Simply Fortran: A Friendly, Professional Fortran IDE
Simply Fortran is a polished, purpose-built integrated development environment (IDE) for Fortran programmers who want a modern, easy-to-use toolchain that “just works.” Created and maintained by Approximatrix, LLC, Simply Fortran bundles a configured GNU Fortran toolchain, a project-aware editor, an integrated graphical debugger, and helpful libraries so you can focus on numerical code instead of fighting tool configuration.
Quick history and context
Approximatrix launched Simply Fortran to provide an affordable, low-friction Fortran experience on mainstream desktop platforms. The product evolved from a Windows-focused distribution into a multi-platform IDE supporting Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux, with steady updates and documentation since its inception in 2010. The vendor positions Simply Fortran as a practical choice for scientists, engineers, educators, and legacy-code maintainers who need a reliable Fortran environment without complex build chains.
What’s included
Simply Fortran is notable for shipping an entire, preconfigured environment, so new users don’t have to assemble a compiler, debugger, and IDE themselves. Key packaged components and capabilities include:
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A preconfigured GNU Fortran compiler (gfortran) for building 32- and 64-bit targets.
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An integrated editor with Fortran-aware features: autocomplete for derived types and modules, call tips, structural outlines, and legacy fixed-format support.
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A graphical, source-level debugger for setting breakpoints, inspecting variables, and stepping through routines.
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Scientific convenience libraries included or readily linkable: BLAS/LAPACK, plotting (Aplot), and AppGraphics for simple GUIs/graphics on Windows.
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Project management (multiple projects per window), automated renaming, quick search, Git detection, and OpenMP support for parallel code.
These built-ins reduce friction for newcomers and speed up common workflows for experienced developers.
Recent updates
Approximatrix continues to maintain Simply Fortran actively. As of July 23, 2025, the site lists Simply Fortran version 3.41, which includes bug fixes and improved error reporting; the product pages and news feed are the best sources for the latest release notes and platform installers.
Workflow — what using it feels like
Start a new project from templates or import legacy source, build with the included compiler, and debug in-place without manual toolchain configuration. The editor gives call tips and autocomplete for in-scope procedures and derived types; the outline and quick search make navigation of large Fortran codebases easier. If you rely on BLAS/LAPACK or want to experiment with OpenMP, those features are integrated or straightforward to enable. For teams, source-control operations are exposed if a Git repo is detected.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Turnkey Fortran environment — no complex setup of compiler + debugger required.
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Fortran-first editor (handles fixed-format legacy code well). Integrated debugger and numerical libraries (BLAS/LAPACK) reduce time-to-working-code.
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Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux).
Cons
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Proprietary license (free 30-day trial, paid licensing for continued use). If you prefer hand-crafting a development toolchain (custom compilers, build systems, CI), the convenience of a bundled IDE may feel opinionated.
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While suitable for many Fortran use cases, very large organizations with bespoke tool requirements might still pick more customizable open-source stacks or enterprise tools.
Who should consider Simply Fortran?
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Students and researchers who want a hassle-free Fortran setup for numerical work.
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Engineers maintaining legacy Fortran 77/90 code that still needs fixed-format support and straightforward debugging.
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Developers who prefer an IDE that understands Fortran semantics (module dependencies, derived types) out of the box.
If you need maximal control over compiler versions or bespoke HPC toolchains, you may want to pair the product with system-level toolchain management or consider alternative workflows — but for most day-to-day Fortran development, Simply Fortran is designed to be the practical, low-friction choice.
Installation and licensing
You can download a 30-day trial installer for Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux from the Simply Fortran website; after the trial, you may purchase perpetual or multi-user licenses directly from Approximatrix. The product pages provide platform installers, documentation, video tutorials, and purchase options.
Final thoughts
Simply Fortran’s core value is convenience: a Fortran-focused IDE that bundles a configured compiler, debugger, libraries, and productivity features so you can write and debug numerical code immediately. It’s especially compelling for users who want to minimize setup time and avoid the occasional fragility of configuring compilers and debuggers across platforms. If you work in Fortran regularly — whether for new scientific code or maintaining legacy numerical software — Simply Fortran is worth a try.