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Groups > comp.lang.forth > #24794

Re: Request for comments on a first forth program

Date 2013-07-25 21:40 -1000
From "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com>
Organization FORTH, Inc.
Newsgroups comp.lang.forth
Subject Re: Request for comments on a first forth program
References (4 earlier) <2013Jul22.174305@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at> <f2ba9703-0fec-42bf-a25a-d56ab5cc089d@googlegroups.com> <87fvv3c9xt.fsf@pestilenz.org> <912b40eb-9435-4b53-a32f-3fd868fdedad@googlegroups.com> <877ggddbb7.fsf@pestilenz.org>
Message-ID <rKmdnecYscprum_MnZ2dnUVZ_rydnZ2d@supernews.com> (permalink)

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On 7/25/13 9:34 PM, Christian Kellermann wrote:
> hughaguilar96@yahoo.com writes:
...
>> I was referring to code like this:
>>
>> variable #moves 0 #moves !
>> variable #teleports 3 #teleports !
>>
>> 2 value #robots
>>
>> You want to have a word like this:
>>
>> : init
>>      0 #moves !
>>      3 #teleports !
>>      2 to #robots
>> ;
>>
>> INIT gets your program back to a pristine state. That way you can test
>> it from a known configuration.
>>
>> As your program is currently written, you have to recompile to get
>> back to a known state. Compilation in Forth is quite fast, so this
>> isn't a terribly bad thing, and with TRY it is convenient. Still
>> though, it is a bad design in which you to have to recompile every
>> time that the program is run.
>
> Ok, I am still a bit confused about this though. How does INIT differ
> from RESET-GAME and/or INIT-PLAYER which sets these? Arguably #robots
> only gets reset in RUN but this has been quite convenient when testing…

Your init words were fine. Hugh probably didn't read far enough to see them.

>> This bit about INIT is a fairly minor point. I still think that the
>> best way to simplify your program is like this:
>>
>> 1.) Use structs to reduce the amount of data that you have on the
>> stack. For example, a struct for a point that contains X and Y
>> coordinates, rather than putting the X and Y data directly on the
>> stack.
>>
>> 2.) Use an array definer. You currently implement several arrays
>> manually, which tends to clutter up your source-code. You don't want
>> low-level code, such as array access, intermingled with your
>> application code --- factoring out the low-level code helps make your
>> application code shorter and easier to read.
>
> For larger code bases this may be true but I think this is
> overdoing it for this little program. Also while a REQUIRE or INCLUDE
> from a library makes this program shorter to read it becomes more
> difficult to understand as I would have to read the included source code
> part first, as people already had to do with the RANDOM word I used.
>
> In general I tend to agree though, abstraction is good…

I agree with you. This is a simple program, and only needs simple data 
structures.

>> If you don't yet know how to implement structs or arrays, or definer
>> words in general, then you can use what I have provided in the novice
>> package. The point of the novice package is to allow people to get
>> started on writing programs, without requiring them to first implement
>> a lot of low-level support code. Later on you will likely develop your
>> own package of low-level code, but that is not something that you want
>> to get bogged down in right now.
>
> …but I like to implement my own abstractions which I fully know and
> understand. To abstract things you first have to know the inner workings
> then you can forget about them for a while. But I guess know I am
> preaching to the choir.

Very good practice.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

-- 
==================================================
Elizabeth D. Rather   (US & Canada)   800-55-FORTH
FORTH Inc.                         +1 310.999.6784
5959 West Century Blvd. Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90045
http://www.forth.com

"Forth-based products and Services for real-time
applications since 1973."
==================================================

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Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-19 11:39 +0200
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Ron Aaron <rambamist@gmail.com> - 2013-07-19 13:04 +0300
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-07-19 12:43 -0400
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-07-19 05:28 -0500
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program m.a.m.hendrix@tue.nl - 2013-07-19 03:56 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program m.a.m.hendrix@tue.nl - 2013-07-19 04:00 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-07-19 12:51 -0400
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:28 +0200
        Re: Request for comments on a first forth program anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2013-07-22 15:43 +0000
          Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-24 20:00 -0700
            Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-25 10:37 +0200
              Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-26 00:00 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-26 09:34 +0200
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-25 21:40 -1000
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-27 20:16 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-29 10:09 +0200
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program m.a.m.hendrix@tue.nl - 2013-07-29 04:14 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-07-29 07:49 -0500
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-29 15:32 -1000
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-31 17:50 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-31 13:23 +0200
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-31 18:05 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-08-01 12:53 +0200
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-08-01 09:58 -0500
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-08-01 20:42 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Brad Eckert <hwfwguy@gmail.com> - 2013-08-04 18:53 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-08-04 22:05 -0500
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-08-04 20:54 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-08-17 17:06 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Alex McDonald <blog@rivadpm.com> - 2013-08-05 05:50 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-08-17 17:45 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-08-05 22:14 +0200
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-08-06 21:11 -0700
                Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-08-01 01:04 -0500
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-19 18:06 +0000
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:31 +0200
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:24 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2013-07-22 15:32 +0000
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Alex McDonald <blog@rivadpm.com> - 2013-07-19 06:49 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:34 +0200
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Mark Wills <markrobertwills@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-07-19 07:19 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:41 +0200
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-19 07:55 -1000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:47 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-20 11:15 -1000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-20 20:09 -0700
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Paul E. Bennett" <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-07-19 19:36 +0100
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-20 12:36 +0000
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:53 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Coos Haak <chforth@hccnet.nl> - 2013-07-21 02:02 +0200
        Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-20 17:18 -1000
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Ian Osgood <iano@quirkster.com> - 2013-07-23 16:07 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:48 +0200
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program stephenXXX@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2013-07-20 12:18 +0000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@necronomicon.my.domain> - 2013-07-20 21:57 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-20 11:24 -1000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-22 15:53 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program m.a.m.hendrix@tue.nl - 2013-07-22 08:06 -0700
        Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-22 19:35 +0000
          Re: Request for comments on a first forth program m.a.m.hendrix@tue.nl - 2013-07-23 00:41 -0700
          Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-23 12:00 +0200
            Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-23 12:10 +0000
              Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-23 14:19 +0200
              Re: Request for comments on a first forth program stephenXXX@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2013-07-24 09:27 +0000
            Re: Request for comments on a first forth program anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2013-07-23 13:44 +0000
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-20 20:02 -0700
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-21 03:36 +0000
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program hughaguilar96@yahoo.com - 2013-07-20 22:28 -0700
        Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-21 10:31 +0000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-07-20 23:41 -0400
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2013-07-22 15:36 +0000
  Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Lars Brinkhoff <lars.spam@nocrew.org> - 2013-07-23 12:22 +0200
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program Christian Kellermann <ckeen@pestilenz.org> - 2013-07-23 13:44 +0200
      Re: Request for comments on a first forth program albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-07-23 12:26 +0000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-07-23 07:10 -1000
    Re: Request for comments on a first forth program stephenXXX@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2013-07-24 09:30 +0000

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