[Bug fortran/39670] dollar sign in entities is not recognized when it is first symbol

[dominiq at lps dot ens dot fr]

------- Comment #3 from dominiq at lps dot ens dot fr  2009-04-07 09:12 -------
> Question is, if this is allowed at all. In comparison: digits are allowed in
> function names, but not as the first character; 'FUNCTION f3()' is valid,
> 'FUNCTION 3f()' is not. 

My fortran book says: 

names must consist of between 1 and 31 alphanumeric characters (letters,
underscores, and numerals) of which the first MUST BE A LETTER.

> Does this apply to '$' as well?

Since '$' is an extension, you know the answer! It is outside the scope of the
standard. 
BTW what should be the implict type of a variable starting with a $?
Now I am not sure that, in the relics of past, names starting with a '$' had
some side effects.

I don't think it is likely to change this extension in gfortran. For the legacy
code, the workaround depends on the kind of the variables starting with a '$'.
If they are all of the same kind (say integer) then it is trivial with you
favorite editor to replace all the '$name' by 'izzname' or 'i$name' (may be
with some filters if you have $ elsewhere). 

> My personal opinion is that the Fortran compiler's primary use is support of the legacy code.

This is your personnal opinion, not mine and probably not of anyone coding in
fortran.
In addition I have always been very suspicious about the validity of the port
of such "legacy" codes.


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http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=39670