What programming languages are used in computational astrophysics?

[abbeynewton]

Hi, just wanted to know which version of FORTRAN is best to learn for one studying astrophysics...and whether C++ is of any importance in computational astrophysics...Thanks

 

[twofish-quant]

You should be familiar with FORTRAN 95.

Also I'd argue that C++ is more important than FORTRAN for people interested in computational astrophysics. All of the new code is being written in C++ rather than FORTRAN, because everything you can do in FORTRAN you can do in C++ whereas the reverse is not true. There is incredible cutting edge stuff in C++ that doesn't exist in FORTRAN. (look at the boost::math libraries)

Also knowing C++ is like knowing English. It's the standard language for industrial applications.

 

[abbeynewton]

thanks, one more question, is java also used in computational astrophysics?