Msg: 7156 *Conference*
05-10-97 19:34:34
From: DAVID FIRTH
To : COMET _
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #7046 (FORTH)
I alluded to it on the listserv, but a Pascal was done for the 8080 as a p-code compiler (compiles to pseudo-codes for an imaginary machine for portability between platforms) back in 1978. The write-up and BASIC source for the p-code compiler was published in Byte. The same technique, modified for various syntaxes, could be used for a tiny C, etc. The only problem is that you can't do anything but tiny programs, since the p-code compiler was rumored to take up 20-24K of RAM itself (source: Compuserve thread logs). For small systems like the Model T's, Forth is an excellent platform. A 32K ROM'ed Forth would be a powerhouse platform -- just super. I have a 68HC11 microcontroller with such a chip, and it is a neat toy. I use the NEC as a terminal for it sometimes -- it can be like a"Forth co-processor" with the NEC sending commands via RS232. I don't have a practical use for this, but it is a neat toy. I'm happy enough with BASIC for simple tasks, but I do get a bit hot when people downplay the programming potential of these little computers. What do they think these languages were first written for, anyway? Later ...