Forth Feedback Loop

#memo #forth

Inspired by Andreas Wagner’s ecr word, I created the word go:

\ go.fs

: go#empty  s" ---marker--- marker ---marker---" evaluate ;
: go#open   s" vim my_project.fs" system ;
: go#run    s" my_project.fs" included ;

: go go#empty go#open go#run ;

marker ---marker---

marker ---marker--- defines a special word: ---marker---

  • When executed, it makes Forth forget all definitions made after it (including itself).

The go word orchestrates an edit-reload cycle:

  • go#empty is the clever bit.
    • It evaluate-s the string "---marker--- marker ---marker---".
    • This first runs the existing ---marker--- (clearing definitions from the previous load of my_project.fs).
    • Then it defines a new ---marker--- at the now-empty top of the dictionary, priming it for the next cycle.
  • go#open uses gforth’s system to open my_project.fs in vim.
  • go#run uses included to load the freshly edited my_project.fs.