Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!rutgers!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!well!jax
From: jax@well.UUCP (Jack J. Woehr)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Re: Forth "Pre-Compiler"
Summary: Some More For Orr!
Keywords: Parser, Religion, Language, Axolotls
Message-ID: <6725@well.UUCP>
Date: 5 Aug 88 04:08:18 GMT
References: <8807221513.AA05347@jade.berkeley.edu> <3d7612e1.13370@dow4.engin.umich.edu> <1533@crete.cs.glasgow.ac.uk> <5703@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <1557@crete.cs.glasgow.ac.uk>
Reply-To: jax@well.UUCP (Jack J. Woehr)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 46

In article <1557@crete.cs.glasgow.ac.uk> orr@cs.glasgow.ac.uk (Fraser Orr) writes:
>
>Are you trying to say forth has zero overhead for calling procedures?
>Am I completely missing your point here?

	On the Novix and chips allied to it in design, the answer is
" not Zero, but one machine cycle for call, and frequently *<1* for
return."

>
>why Forth'ers are not prepared to use parsers so that
>their code is more readable. Lets see what we can learn form each other
>instead of indulging in mindless "I think my language is better than yours"
>wars. I accept that Forth is fast on Forth chips, I also assert that
>C or Pascal are easier to program in. What can I learn from you,  
>and what can you learn from me?
>

	Good point Fraser! In your defense, i think most of
us have found your off -the-cuff assessment of Forth not only humorous,
but quite familiar.

	It is clear, though, that serendipity has not been achieved
in your waltz with Forth! We Amerrycuns would say, "You ain't grokked
it yet, man!"

	To the Forth world, the Forth parser is a *model* of *simplicity*,
*economy* and *clarity*.

	Further, if you would care to informally research the matter,
I believe you will not find a computer language that attracts such
a high percentage of linguistically talented individuals as Forth.
Forth rewards skill with language arts; I would say that the C language
rewards ability at making college outlines.

	Seriously, if you have enough acquaintance with Forth to 
understand, I would recommend you purchase a major text like Dr. 
C.H. Ting's _Inside F83_ and "nest down" through an examination of
the parser code starting at  QUIT . There is nothing quite so
pristine and beautiful in all of parser theory as the Forth outer
interpreter!

*****
jax@well	... host of the WELL FOrth Conference
jax@chariot
JAX on GEnie	"Forth programmers get it up faster!"