ANN: DX-Forth 4.56

[dxf]

DX-Forth is a Forth language compiler and development system
for MS-DOS and CP/M-80 operating systems. It is intended to
be a complete, easy to use, programming tool for the creation
of turnkey applications.

What's new:

v4.56 2024-05-10

+ added - removed * fixed ! changed = updated

+ INTEGER HELD (UD.) (H.N)
! DOSLIB: parsing
= BLK2TXT TXT2BLK SCOPY NEWAPP

MS-DOS only:

+ F87XS extended-precision f/p (separate stack)

Downloads:

DXCPM456.ZIP (CP/M-80)
DXDOS456.ZIP (MS-DOS)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kh2WcPUc3hQpLcz7TQ-YQiowrozvxfGw

[HenryHH]

Sometimes I want to use a 16-bit Forth system, and in this case
I use DX-Forth running in DOSBox.

DX-Forth is complete, well organized, and it comes with good
documentation.
In my opinion, this is the best 16-bit Forth system that is available
today.

Thank you for the good work and for sharing it with us.

Henry

[a***@spenarnc.xs4all.nl]

Post by HenryHH
Sometimes I want to use a 16-bit Forth system, and in this case
I use DX-Forth running in DOSBox.
DX-Forth is complete, well organized, and it comes with good
documentation.
In my opinion, this is the best 16-bit Forth system that is available
today.

There are more good forths available that run in DOSBox.
FPC is particularly complete, comes also with hypertreading documentation.

Post by HenryHH
Thank you for the good work and for sharing it with us.
Henry

[HenryHH]

Post by a***@spenarnc.xs4all.nl
There are more good forths available that run in DOSBox.

Absolutely, there have been many good 16-bit Forth systems
in the past. I have used LMI PC/FORTH in the 90s for control
of automatic measuring systems in the laboratory.
Also played with Tom Zimmer's F-PC once in a while.

The problem is that these systems are no longer maintained.

It is a pity that Ray Duncan never made his excellent
UR/FORTH compiler available as freeware when he decided to
pursue a different career.

For me, DX-Forth stands out for the following reasons:
- It is ANS compatible
- I can include Forth code as regular text files
- It is publicly available and free
- It is still maintained (and very well maintained)

In DX-Forth, I felt home immediately. It is very easy
to port code from SwiftForth to DX-Forth.
Even assembly code uses rather similar syntax.
DX-Forth (16 bit) complements SwiftForth (32 and 64 bit)
nicely.

There is no need to use a block file editor.
I use TextPad for editing (with syntax highlighting),
then include the text files into the Forth compiler.
Working in Windows and DOSBox at the same time.
Very convenient.

Henry

[dxf]

Post by HenryHH
Sometimes I want to use a 16-bit Forth system, and in this case
I use DX-Forth running in DOSBox.
DX-Forth is complete, well organized, and it comes with good
documentation.
In my opinion, this is the best 16-bit Forth system that is available
today.
Thank you for the good work and for sharing it with us.
Henry

Thanks for the kind words, Henry. For a while I was convinced only I was
using it :)

While DX-Forth fits a niche for smallish applications and has the advantage
of being a little more modern, it would have difficulty competing with F-PC
and commercial systems such as UR/Forth, HS-Forth to name two. But then
Forth is as much about building something one is comfortable with. I just
wish it hadn't taken so long :)