About SCALAPACKFX

SCALAPACKFX is a library containing modern Fortran (Fortran 2003) wrappers around SCALAPACK, PBLAS and BLACS routines. The goal is to make the use of those libraries as simple as possible in Fortran.

Consider for example a simple broadcast in BLACS. In order to broadcast an integer array (aa) with 5x5 elements using the appropriate BLACS routine, you have to issue:

call igebs2d(ictxt, "All", " ", 5, 5, aa, 5)

Additional to the object to be broadcasted and the communicator, you also must specify following arguments:

  • type of the array as first letter of the subroutine name (although it is known at compile-time)

  • number of row, number of columns and leading dimension of the array (although those are known at run-time)

  • scope of the broadcast (could be optional as very often it is “All” any way)

  • communcation pattern for the broadcast (could be optional as very often “ “ is used)

Using SCALAPACKFX the call above is as simple as:

call blacsfx_gebs(mygrid, aa)

No redundant arguments, sensible defaults. Nevertheless the full functionality still available via optional parameters if needed. E.g. if you wanted to the scope, you could write:

call blacsfx_gebs(mygrid, aa, scope="Row")

Also, the array aa does not have to be a rank two array, it can be also rank one (vector) or rank zero (scalar).

A few routines are already covered (see List of routines). If your desired routine is not among them yet, you are cordially invited to extend SCALAPACKFX and to share it in order to let others profit from your work (SCALAPACKFX is licensed under the simplified BSD license). For more details see the project home page.