Earlier quoted context omitted.
Lots of number crunching code relies on Fortran libraries even today. Install numpy, it will pull in Fortran stuff.
Numpy actually explicitly doesn't need fortran. It will use some fortran lapack libraries for optimizations if they're present, but it doesn't depend on fortran at all. Scipy is a different story. The need for a fortran compiler was a big part of the original rationale for the divide of numpy and scipy when they replaced numeric. Numpy was meant to be the lighweight/core version of things, and scipy was the full-fled…
I was amazed how much more complex things were when moving to C++ (as opposed to C or C written in cpp files which you’ll find in academia and some books).
Of course, that ease is a hazard when all the modern (i.e. fun) sci-eng software development is in C++.
Do not grow complacent in school, ye numerical methods researchers! Write your stuff in C++. The job market awaits.