Fortran - explicit interface

Question

I'm very new to Fortran, and for my research I need to get a monster of a model running, so I am learning as I am going along. So I'm sorry if I ask a "stupid" question. I'm trying to compile (Mac OSX, from the command line) and I've already managed to solve a few things, but now I've come across something I am not sure how to fix. I think I get the idea behind the error, but again, not sure how to fix.

The model is huge, so I will only post the code sections that I think are relevant (though I could be wrong). I have a file with several subroutines, that starts with:

    !==========================================================================================!
!    This subroutine simply updates the budget variables.                                  !
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!
subroutine update_budget(csite,lsl,ipaa,ipaz)

   use ed_state_vars, only : sitetype     ! ! structure
   implicit none

   !----- Arguments -----------------------------------------------------------------------!
   type(sitetype)  , target     :: csite
   integer         , intent(in) :: lsl
   integer         , intent(in) :: ipaa
   integer         , intent(in) :: ipaz
   !----- Local variables. ----------------------------------------------------------------!
   integer                      :: ipa
   !----- External functions. -------------------------------------------------------------!
   real            , external   :: compute_water_storage
   real            , external   :: compute_energy_storage
   real            , external   :: compute_co2_storage
   !---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!


   do ipa=ipaa,ipaz
      !------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!
      !      Computing the storage terms for CO2, energy, and water budgets.               !
      !------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!
      csite%co2budget_initialstorage(ipa) = compute_co2_storage(csite,ipa)
      csite%wbudget_initialstorage(ipa)   = compute_water_storage(csite,lsl,ipa)
      csite%ebudget_initialstorage(ipa)   = compute_energy_storage(csite,lsl,ipa)
   end do

   return
end subroutine update_budget
!==========================================================================================!
!==========================================================================================!

I get error messages along the lines of

budget_utils.f90:20.54:

real , external :: compute_co2_storage 1
Error: Dummy argument 'csite' of procedure 'compute_co2_storage' at (1) has an attribute that requires an explicit interface for this procedure

(I get a bunch of them, but they are essentially all the same). Now, looking at ed_state_vars.f90 (which is "used" in the subroutine), I find

!============================================================================!
!============================================================================!
  !---------------------------------------------------------------------------!  
  ! Site type:
  ! The following are the patch level arrays that populate the current site.
  !---------------------------------------------------------------------------!  

type sitetype


     integer :: npatches

     !  The global index of the first cohort in all patches
     integer,pointer,dimension(:) :: paco_id

     ! The number of cohorts in each patch
     integer,pointer,dimension(:) :: paco_n

     ! Global index of the first patch in this vector, across all patches
     ! on the grid

     integer :: paglob_id

     ! The patches containing the cohort arrays
     type(patchtype),pointer,dimension(:) :: patch

Etc etc - this goes one for another 500 lines or so. So to get to the point, it seems like the original subroutine needs an explicit interface for its procedures in order to be able to use the (dummy) argument csite. Again, I am SO NEW to Fortran, but I am really trying to understand how it "thinks". I have been searching what it means to have an explicit interface, when (and how!) to use it etc. But I can't figure out how it applies in my case. Should I maybe use a different compiler (Intel?). Any hints?

Edit: So csite is declared a target in all procedures and from the declaration type(site type) contains a whole bunch of pointers, as specified in sitetype. But sitetype is being properly used from another module (ed_state_vars.f90) in all procedures. So I am still confused why it gives me the explicit interface error?

Answer 1

"explicit interface" means that the interface to the procedure (subroutine or function) is declared to the compiler. This allows the compiler to check consistency of arguments between calls to the procedure and the actual procedure. This can find a lot of programmer mistakes. You can do this writing out the interface with an interface statement but there is a far easier method: place the procedure into a module and use that module from any other entity that calls it -- from the main program or any procedure that is itself not in the module. But you don't use a procedure from another procedure in the same module -- they are automatically known to each other.

Placing a procedure into a module automatically makes its interface known to the compiler and available for cross-checking when it is useed. This is easier and less prone to mistakes than writing an interface. With an interface, you have to duplicate the procedure argument list. Then if you revise the procedure, you also have to revise the calls (of course!) but also the interface.

An explicit interface (interface statement or module) is required when you use "advanced" arguments. Otherwise the compiler doesn't know to generate the correct call

If you have a procedure that is useed, you shouldn't describe it with external. There are very few uses of external in modern Fortran -- so, remove the external attributes, put all of your procedures into a module, and use them.