Wellys Dev

I discuss designating ESPForth as ArduinoForth, which is Forth words calling the Arduino framework.ESPForth is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to learn Forth, however it is based on the Arduino framework. This entry continues to explore how to use ESPForth calling Arduino routines on the Adafruit ESP32 HUZZAH32.

Change of plans (again)

This entry is pretty much deprecated for two reasons:

1. There is a bug (or I don’t understand it) in CH Ting’s version of ESPForth in the word “constant”. Through several attempts over multiple months, I haven’t been able to have it consistently store a value. I looked at the C++ code and wasn’t able to determine the issue. Ultimately, this prevents one from writing a readable Hardware Abstraction Level (HAL), as much of an HAL are constant definitions.
2. While attempting to solve #1, I ran across a new version of ESPForth, ESPForth 7.0.

Change of plans

For several days, I attempted to use the HUZZAH32 in its native mode, meaning I look at the registers such as GPIO_OUT_W1TS_REG and set specific pins to achieve what I need. I ran into significant issues, with some pins working well, while others had inconsistent results. It was this inconsistency that caused me to rethink how I approached this specific version of Forth, ESPForth.

ESPForth is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to learn Forth.

esp32Forth Serial Monitor is a version of Forth written by CH Ting. Ting is remarkable in the volume of documentation he provides, as well as the number of versions of Forth he has created. In this article I want to highlight a version that I believe is interesting for two specific reasons:

1. It runs on a Forth Virtual Machine (FVM) using the Arduino software framework
2. It runs on ESP32 Arduino boards such as the NodeMCU ESP32, Adafruit ESP32 HUZZAH32 and the ESP32-DEVKIT. Most of these boards are $5-$15 with an amazing amount of processing power. When looking for a board for ESPForth, you want to ensure it is compatible with the Arduino IDE.

FVM on the Arduino software

Using the Arduino software provides a simple, yet powerful IDE for the user to implement Forth. It doesn’t require additional hardware so the user can immediately begin to use Forth. This also allows one to create Forth words calling Arduino framework software such as digitalRead, digitalWrite, and pinMode.

As I got back into Forth after about 35 years of other languages, programs and technical stuff, I’ve been asked, Why Forth?

The most personal reason is that I’ve had a life-long passion for the language and kept a bookshelf full of Forth books for over 40 years. However, once I began to use it again, I realized its perfect for embedded processors. I’m surprised how well it works with today’s microcontrollers. And how relatively easy it is to find a port of Forth for many popular microcontrollers. I still think its a good question to ask, so I start this blog with the question:

Here are links to Forth tutorials, books or products.

The content on this site is intended to inspire, teach or to simply help with specific topics or concepts in Forth. This page provides a list of resources for a more formal learning as to Forth. Many of the people that have created the content below have been writing or teaching Forth for many years, they are the experts.

Forth Tutorials

• CH Ting’s great site for learning Forth, multiple tutorials
• A Beginner’s Guide to Forth, Noble J.V.
• Phenomenal tutorial site on FlashForth
• Gforth Manual
• Easy Forth
• Forth in 7 easy steps • JeeLabs
• Forth: The Hacker’s Language | Hackaday
• Moving Forth With Mecrisp-stellaris And Embello | Hackaday
• A Good evaluation of Forth Implementations

Forth Books

• Definitive beginners book on Forth: Starting Forth
• Follow on to Starting Forth: Thinking Forth
• Detailed modern book on Forth from MPE

Forth Implementations

• FlashForth
• Mecrisp - Native code Forth for MSP430 and ARM Cortex
• muforth: a simple ITC Forth

Forth Boards

• Microchip PIC24 board preprogrammed with FlashForth

Forth Organizations

• Original Forth Organization

A set of entries which comprise a course for learning how develop Forth programs for the ATmega328 or RP2040.

FlashForth and ATmega328P Entries

1. FlashForth: Simple Setup
2. FlashForth: blink
3. Flashforth: Working with the Uno
4. FlashForth: Understanding the ATmega328P PWM
5. FlashForth: Datasheets
6. FlashForth: Compile a New Version
7. FlashForth: Arduino HAL
8. FlashForth: Using the Three Values of Forth

Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth and RP2040 Entries

1. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: On the RP2040
2. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: Creating a New UF2
3. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: An IDE for the RP2040
4. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: RP2040 and Pin Testing
5. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: Notes
6. Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth: Dictionary 0

General Forth Entries

1. Why Forth
2. Comparing Board and Language Speeds