FORTH for the SHARP PC-E500 (S)

[robve]

(11-14-2022 12:55 AM)Helix Wrote:  

(11-06-2022 04:15 AM)robve Wrote:  Recently started a new Forth project. This time for the Sharp PC-850(V)(S).

New thread here: https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-19085.html

Rob,
In the Forth850 thread, you presented an interesting example on how to use machine code inside Forth definitions. I've not investigated this question (I own a G850VS, but now I'm busy enough with the E500S ), but is the same technique possible with Forth500, just writing HEX codes?

Writing an assembler for the ESR-L in Forth would take some time, something I'm short of. Using the PC-G850's Assembler with Forth850 is cheap: it's already there. I didn't have to write one or find a Z80 assembler to integrate with Forth850. Note that Forth500 is a lot more powerful than Forth850 (thanks to the fact that the E500 is a professional machine with reasonably powerful FCS and IOCS system), so you're not missing out on anything really, except speed perhaps.

I'm not sure how many folks would actually use an ESR-L assembler in Forth500 besides you and me? I hope I'm mistaken, but our world with our "toys" is pretty small.

I will keep updating Forth500 and Forth850 (as well as other side projects.) But I tend to move quickly between things to do. I recently acquired two PC-1600's that peaked my interest, one close to NIB with 2 64K RAM modules and one with a CE-1600 printer. Forth850 may as well be ported to that PC too. Now that I've said it, I probably can't get that out of my head... oh no

- Rob