RNPL: RNPL is a special purpose, high-level computer
language designed to facilitate the rapid development of
finite-difference (FD) codes for the solution of time dependent systems
of partial differential equations. A chief design goal of the language
was to free the user from the need to worry about the many "book
keeping" details (such as memory management, parameter definition,
input and output facilities etc.) that typically constitute a large
fraction of a "written-from-scratch" FD code. RNPL also allows the user
to specify the discrete equations of motion that define the FD system
to be solved in a natural, operator-based fashion.
The RNPL compiler translates RNPL source into several Fortran
(or C) files, which are then further compiled and linked to produce an
executable. In some circumstances, it is awkward, or simply not
possible, to achieve a desired functionality using pure RNPL---for such
cases, a mechanism is provided that allows essentially arbitrary user
written Fortran (or C) code to be "imported" into the RNPL-generated
program.
You will use RNPL throughout this course so you may find
occasion to refer to the available documentation for the language:
- Chapters 8 and 9 [PDF]
of
Robert Marsa's PhD dissertation [PDF]
- RNPL Reference Manual: [HTML | PDF]
- RNPL User's Guide: [HTML | PDF]
- "New" Features of RNPL [HTML] (Use as supplement
to User's Guide and Reference Manual)