ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

F2c

Hey kiddo, do you remember how we sometimes write numbers in words like two, three, or four? Similarly, computers also have their own way of writing things called programming languages. One such language is called FORTRAN, which is used by scientists and engineers to write complex equations and simulations.

Now, when programmers write code in FORTRAN, the computer cannot understand it directly. It needs to translate or convert it into a language that it can read, which is called machine code. This process of conversion from FORTRAN code to machine code is called compilation.

But sometimes, programmers might want to convert their FORTRAN code into another programming language like C, which is more modern and flexible. This is where f2c comes in – it is a program that can convert FORTRAN code into C code, which can then be compiled into machine code.

So, let's say you have a bunch of equations written in FORTRAN and you want to use them in a C program. You can use f2c to convert the FORTRAN code into C code, and then you can use a C compiler to compile it into machine code that the computer can understand.

In summary, f2c is a program that helps convert FORTRAN code into C code, making it easier to use in modern programming environments.