Programming Forth introduces you to modern Forth systems. In 1994 the ANS Forth standard was released and unleashed a wave of creativity among Forth compiler writers. Because the ANS standard, unlike the previous informal Forth-83 standard, avoids specifying implementation details, implementers took full advantage. The result has been what I choose to call modern Forths, which are available from a range of sources both commercial and open-source.
This book concentrates on introducing people who already know some programming to ANS Forth systems. It is not a treatise on ANS Forth itself – if you need the gory details, the last public (freely distributable) draft of the ANS standard is included on the CD supplied with purchased copies of the book. Copies in PDF format are available by download from http://www.mpeforth.com/arena at no cost. If you are a novice programmer (or indeed at all interested in the craft of programming) read this book alongside “Starting Forth” and “Thinking Forth” by Leo Brodie. How to get them is in the chapter on other books and resources.
Apart from the introduction of ANS Forth itself, Programming Forth includes examples of varying sizes, exercises, some advanced topics, how to take best advantage of Forth and project management. The material is derived from course material from MicroProcessor Engineering and teaching work at Teesside University by Bill Stoddart and Peter Knaggs, plus new material. Both the printed and the PDF versions are updated from time to time to incorporate changes requested by readers. If you want to comment on the book please send feedback to programforth@mpeforth.com - I appreciate all your comments and contributions.
