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Threaded Interpretive Languages: Their Design and Implementation
Introduces individuals owning microcomputers or minicomputers with minimal peripherals to the design and implementation of a threaded interpreter as an approach to developing a standard, nonstandard programming language
251 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 9, 2010
One of the best descriptions of threaded interpreted languages ever (which basically means FORTH). Covers direct threaded, indirect threaded, subroutine threaded, and more.
A gem of a book.
A gem of a book.
October 6, 2022
This took me forever to get through. At least three months. As the author admits, TILs are a real bear to wrap your head around because they involve so many independent moving parts. Loeliger does a great job of giving a high-level and low-level explanation of the entire sequence of events, but I'd still be in awe of anyone who could simply read this book straight through and actually GROK how it all works together. Maybe if you work out some of it on paper as well?
But that's fine. This book will guide you through creating your own TIL (or Forth-like language). And if you do that, you'll get it. My own journey involved porting a Forth (JONESFORTH) from one flavor of x86 assembly language to another (AT&T style GAS to Intel style NASM).
If you have a Z80 processor lying around, this book contains a complete implementation (well, I assume it's complete), so you're good to go! Otherwise, you can use it as a guide and essentially "port" the Z80 code to whatever architecture you're using.
As an object, there is something strangely beautiful about a lot of old computer books. I think it's the typography. This one is a pleasing size, as well - it's a hardback, but of the smaller variety. And the airbrushed cover illustration is a really nice touch.
But that's fine. This book will guide you through creating your own TIL (or Forth-like language). And if you do that, you'll get it. My own journey involved porting a Forth (JONESFORTH) from one flavor of x86 assembly language to another (AT&T style GAS to Intel style NASM).
If you have a Z80 processor lying around, this book contains a complete implementation (well, I assume it's complete), so you're good to go! Otherwise, you can use it as a guide and essentially "port" the Z80 code to whatever architecture you're using.
As an object, there is something strangely beautiful about a lot of old computer books. I think it's the typography. This one is a pleasing size, as well - it's a hardback, but of the smaller variety. And the airbrushed cover illustration is a really nice touch.
October 31, 2024
I've been playing with Forth again lately and realized that I'd read this book back in college, oh-so-many decades ago. Alas, my fond memories didn't quite match the reality.
For starters, the title is a bit misleading. This isn't a book about threaded interpretive languages, this is a book about one particular TIL, recognizably Forth (if a rather quaint dialect), implemented for one particular microprocessor using one particular technique. As I type this, I think that it's the last part that I find most disappointing. There's no discussion of different implementation technique -- direct or indirect threading (or other!) and possible layouts for vocabulary entries would be nice additions to help readers understand TILs rather than simply write a particular one.
On the other hand, I'm going to have to re-read his explanation of Forth vocabularies, because that section didn't make a lot of sense to me and it's something I'm struggling with in my own playing.
It's also a fascinating trip back to a different age. The book focuses on issues like how to get the interpreter to fit into 4 KB and still get something useful done, and how to bootstrap your TIL into an EEPROM. Now we sling around gigabytes of program and without even thinking about it.
For starters, the title is a bit misleading. This isn't a book about threaded interpretive languages, this is a book about one particular TIL, recognizably Forth (if a rather quaint dialect), implemented for one particular microprocessor using one particular technique. As I type this, I think that it's the last part that I find most disappointing. There's no discussion of different implementation technique -- direct or indirect threading (or other!) and possible layouts for vocabulary entries would be nice additions to help readers understand TILs rather than simply write a particular one.
On the other hand, I'm going to have to re-read his explanation of Forth vocabularies, because that section didn't make a lot of sense to me and it's something I'm struggling with in my own playing.
It's also a fascinating trip back to a different age. The book focuses on issues like how to get the interpreter to fit into 4 KB and still get something useful done, and how to bootstrap your TIL into an EEPROM. Now we sling around gigabytes of program and without even thinking about it.
January 18, 2017
Interesting and in depth description of a Forth variant for the Z80 processor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews