TurboForth website updated - yowsers!

[Willsy]

It's a TurboForth day today!

 

Updates to the site as follows:

 

• Utilities disk updated to include a new utility: MOVBLK - this lets you move blocks around in your blocks file. Seems to work! I should probably do some more testing. Any volunteers? (use backups!!!!!!!)
• A new version of the Local Variables library. Produces smaller, faster code than before. Local Variables article on the website has been updated. Using local variables can now actually produce faster code than stack juggling. And it's easier to read six months after you bloody wrote it!
• New DATA[ and ]DATA words - super useful - have a look.
• POSTPONE - another cool word (stolen from ANS forth)

See the resources page and the download page. Have fun!

[+Vorticon]

Very nice! I love the concept of local variables, particularly since you seem to have mitigated the potential performance hit at run time. The enhanced DATA also is great. Extremely useful enhancements

[Opry99er]

Local variables > stackrobatics

 

Thank you Willsy.

[Willsy]

Downloads page on TurboForth.net updated (finally sorted it out). Much better. Note: The binaries and the disk files are now included in a single download (why didn't I do that before?). Both disk images have been updated in recent days so update your copies.

 

Back to lurk mode

[Willsy]

Today I finally got off my ass and completed the sound tutorial. It describes the word SOUND that is built into TurboForth, and also proposes three new words (with code, in both Forth and machine code - whichever takes your fancy) for better control.

 

Bostin'

[+TheBF]

I had always dreamt of some simple words to control the TMS9919 but never made them. I can cross-compile Forth at the moment with my DOS cross-compiler/assembler (masochist, I know I know) and so I have got this working using the 9901 timer for mS. With the timer and the support words and headers it adds 670 bytes so I will have to look it over for size reductions.

A few more code words may be in order, but I like the way it looks just the same.

\ Code the classic TI-99 sounds defined with new lexicon
: BEEP  ( -- ) GEN1  1398 Hz  -4 dB  170 mS  MUTE ;
: HONK  ( -- ) GEN1   218 Hz   0 dB  170 mS  MUTE  ;