FORD – Documentation generator for modern Fortran

FORD, short for FORtran Documenter, generates documentation for modern Fortran programs. It combines information extracted from source code with explanatory comments to produce a searchable HTML reference.

Alongside API descriptions, projects can include general documentation pages, mathematical expressions, and diagrams showing relationships within the codebase.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

• Extracts information about modules, programs, procedures, arguments, variables, and derived types.
• Reads documentation comments embedded in source files, keeping explanations close to the relevant code.
• Formats documentation using Markdown for headings, lists, links, and code examples.
• Renders LaTeX mathematical notation through MathJax for scientific and numerical documentation.
• Produces searchable documentation with links between related parts of the software.
• Displays syntax-highlighted source files and provides access to raw source and downloads.
• Can include source excerpts on documentation pages for procedures, programs, and derived types.
• Generates Graphviz diagrams showing module dependencies, type relationships, and procedural call trees.
• Controls graph depth and size to make diagrams more manageable for larger projects.
• Supports hierarchical standalone pages for tutorials, background material, and other general information.
• Includes non-Fortran source files with file-level documentation and syntax highlighting.
• Filters documented entities by visibility and offers several ordering methods.
• Supports source preprocessing and configurable documentation settings.
• Accepts project configuration through Markdown metadata or a Fortran Package Manager configuration file.
• Cross-platform support – runs on Linux and macOS.

Website: github.com/Fortran-FOSS-Programmers/ford
Support:
Developer: Fortran-FOSS-Programmers and contributors
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

FORD is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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