The Fortran Standardization Process (WG5 Standing Document 4) The international standard for Fortran is a multi-part set of standards. Part 1 defines the base language; other parts define optional auxiliary standards. WG5 has the responsibility of maintaining these standards and of developing them separately and jointly as may be appropriate. It follows the procedures described below, subject always to the over-riding ISO procedures. 1. Major functions There are three major functions: (1) identification of needs and specification of standard requirements, (2) development of standard document content and (3) maintenance of the current standard. Other activities include scheduling, performing liaison and review activities, and conducting ad hoc studies. The requirements and development functions should be separate but highly coordinated. Draft documents (standards, amendments, corrigenda, technical reports, etc.) will be submitted to ISO for adoption. 2. The requirements function The result of requirements specification is a document that prescribes the functional requirements for a revision of the base language standard or of related standards. WG5, from time to time, determines, records, distributes, and maintains the needs and suggested requirements for Fortran. To begin a new revision WG5, using the recorded needs and suggested requirements, establishes objectives and corresponding functional requirements, specifications, and schedule for that revision. 3. The development function The development function develops the international standard revisions and related auxiliary standards, in accordance with the specified requirements and schedule. A development body will be chosen to produce each revision or new auxiliary standard. The development body for a revision of the base Fortran standard is termed the "primary development body". It is the responsibility of each development body to determine how the requirements are to be met and to prepare the corresponding draft document. Revisions of the Fortran standard will incorporate approved corrections as well as fully implemented requirements. A development body will nominate a project editor, produce a draft document to meet the agreed schedule and specified requirements, establish a document production system that will allow the most recent electronic version of any proposed standard to be available to all members of WG5 and the development body and coordinate with other development bodies and organizations, as appropriate. 4. The maintenance function Maintenance of a standard involves correcting errors that are discovered in the standard and providing official interpretations for those parts of the standard that are found to be unclear or incompletely specified. A corrigendum that incorporates corrections resulting from this maintenance activity will be produced periodically. WG5 will determine maintenance bodies for Fortran revision standards and auxiliary standards. In general, the body that develops a standard will be responsible for its maintenance. WG5 will conduct a letter ballot on items that the maintenance body identifies as ready for further processing. From the items thus approved, WG5 will extract material appropriate for a technical corrigendum and forward the resulting draft to SC22 for further processing. This procedure will be repeated as required. 5. Scheduling WG5 will determine the approximate target date for each revision of the base standard - typically between five and ten years - and will negotiate with the primary development body a detailed schedule consistent with this target. For other development work WG5 will negotiate an appropriate schedule with the corresponding development body. Activities involving maintenance of the current standard will take place concurrently with the development activities. 6. The multi-part standard Some needs may be met most effectively with auxiliary standards rather than by revision of the base standard. Such an auxiliary standard is related to the base standard in some significant way; each auxiliary standard is a separate part of the Fortran standard, with Part 1 being the base language. Standard-conforming implementations must accommodate the whole of Part 1; the other parts are optional. Because of the serious potential for incompatibilities arising from uncoordinated extension activities, WG5 requests that all bodies developing extension standards coordinate their work closely with the primary development body and requires that the work be technically acceptable to the primary development body before approval by WG5. At some point it may become appropriate to incorporate an auxiliary standard into the base standard. WG5 will accomplish this by assigning the integration to the primary development body, with assistance from the development body responsible for maintenance of the auxiliary standard. 7. Liaison and review activities It is the responsibility of WG5 and the development bodies to establish liaison or contact with and review the work of other organizations whose work items relate to the Fortran standards effort. A list of such organizations is maintained in WG5 Standing Document 6, WG5 Liaison Activities. 8. Conducting ad hoc studies It is the responsibility of WG5 to determine whether studies are needed to aid the identification and requirements specification processes. WG5 may carry out such ad hoc studies or may request one or more participating member bodies to carry out such studies. 9. Coordination within WG5 and between WG5 and development bodies Meeting schedules will be coordinated to best accomplish the goals established by the schedule. The WG5 Convenor will when appropriate conduct letter ballots of members to assist in reaching decisions between meetings. There should be as much overlap as possible in the membership of WG5 and development bodies, especially with the primary development body. This provides informal communication and continuity. Formal written reports and resolutions will be used to clarify communications and maintain a record of communications.