Pandaforth For Gp32

[Torlus]

PandaForth is a Forth implementation for GP32 based on Bradford J. Rodriguez's CamelForth for the Z80.

If don't know Forth, basically, it is a stack-based language using "reverse polish" notation.
It provides an interpreter which is able to compile new definitions.
You can test the language features with the help of a Java applet on my site http://torlus.com/

One of the original features of PandaForth is that you use the interpreter directly from your computer through a USB connection, with the help of a Windows application bundled with it... allowing you to code directly on hardware

 

[Mark]

I'm really not qualified to comment on this, but this sounds very interesting.

 

[mechanori]

Can someone elaborate a bit. I'm interested also.

 

[Torlus]

From the README.txt I wrote in the archive :

If you don't know what Forth is, http://www.forth.org/ is a good starting point.

Basically Forth is a stack-based language using "reverse polish" notation.
It provides an interpreter which is able to be extended with new definitions.

Unlike BASIC interpreters, new "definitions" (or "functions", Forth users generally talk about "words") are _compiled_ which means that there is no difference in performance between newly created words, and the original ones provided by the interpreter (except for those few written in assembly).

Forth is a kind of (unmanaged) virtual machine. Unlike Java virtual machines, a Forth engine is very simple and will usually fit in less than 10Kb (yes, "ten. kilo. bytes." ). For design considerations about Forth, I highly recommend Bradford J. Rodriguez's publications about them.
Check his site at http://www.zetetics.com/bj/papers/.