Please send me email at ji_wang@yahoo.com

Having been working with computers for almost two decades, I can tell you I started with computers very few people knows about it. It was a computer I used after my language class (Fortran, what else). It is one of the DJS series, running on the operating system I even do not know its name. Anyway, it was a fascinating start to me.

Then I started serious computing work with IBM CMS machines, writing and debugging Fortran codes for structural analysis. The terminals were the ones you can use the line editing mode, and the printers can be a punch card device. Besides the CMS manuals, I also have some manuals on one odd operating system called Wylbure (?), and used the ICE editor on another machine. The buzz words at the time also included TSO, VMS, and Unix.

I was reluctant to use Unix at first, because the CMS machines are very powerful and convenient. However, I have to use it because our department gave students Unix accounts for everything. Eventually I moved out all of my codes and files from the CMS and pushed the Sun and DEC workstations to limit by running the structural analysis jobs day and night on the cluster. Also the administrator had to schedule the maintenance based on the jobs I submitted. At the time I also used the SGI machines, but only for some cool graphics capabilities. Of course, all the nice figures appeared on my papers were from MacIntosh.

You are right if you guess I have to use supercomputers. I did have accesses to Cray machines at National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA, UIUC), Cornell Theory Center, and lately SDSC and NASA Ames. I also looked and worked on the supercomputers at ARSC and NERSC. Of course, most of my major development and computing were done on a SGI Origin.

In the computer software company, we just used Sun servers and Windows, like most of you. Based on a summary of experience, here are some links I would like to share with you:

Fortran
Contrary to popular believes, Fortran is not dying. In fact, there are many applications are still being developed with Fortran and new versions. It means to speed to these applications, and it will not change anytime soon.

Fortran FAQ
Fortran Library
Netlib --- best place to start your work on scientific computing with Fortran and other languages

C/C++
You know so much about them already. How about the following?

C History --- It is official by Ritchie! Of course, you should poke around.
C Books --- Not the most complete one but worth to check.
C++ Sites --- You can find almost anything.

Java
Java is a new language emerged with the Internet. Now Microsoft has left and the new economy is slowing down. What could be the fate of Java? Maybe many Java programmers can answer this question.

Java Site --- Sun Java Site should be visited by anyone want to have a taste of Java.
Java Ranch --- Want to have a Java ride or chat with fellow coders? Check this site out.

Apache
When you see this, most likely the web server is Apache. It is one of the most popular server for the Internet. Looks like any one can install it and run it on any machine connected to the Internet. Questions can be complicated and it can be answered by fellow webmasters and system administrators.

Apache Site --- This is the official Apache site.
Apache Week --- Good for your webmaster work.
Apache-SSL --- Want to run e-business? You have to know the SSL.

RSA and PKI
If you know computer security, you know what is RSA. Most likely, you have a RSA product for your computer. It is just the one of the PKI algorithms being used to support many security applications include the e-business.

RSA --- RSA company.
PKI Forum --- PKI companies are here to provide PKI solutions for the dangerous Internet.