FlowForth
Another curious Forth alike interpreter, running on flow charts as host computer
FlowForth runs on a flow charts interpreter, specifically on
Automate, which is an automation app
for Android devices.
Currently does the VM
look like this: FlowForth VM (pdf)
Flow starting points are on the left. One for manually launching the VM, with a file selector popping up. The other starting point monitors a file, and is triggered when that file is written to. From that file is the program file read, loaded into (emulated) memory, and a cold start performed, which leads to the VM "next" routine, the core of the emulator (lower left). The bulk of remaining blocks are used for primitives implementation.
Programs written as far are exclusively test routines. A failing test
lights the device LED in red.
The LED turning green indicates a successfully accomplished test.
For output and debugging, type and . are provided. There is an inkling of console I/O now, witnessed by files stdin.txt (read by query) and stdout.txt (type and . write to that file, besides pushing a toast). To interface these files with a terminal, pushing their contents through MQTT upon change (stdout.txt) or writing to when an MQTT message is received (stdin.txt) is considered.
Previously generated trace files have been disabled now.
The VM is no performance monster, but seems quick enough to attempt porting a complete interpreter to it. It runs about 5000 to 10000 empty loops per second on my phone, which puts it into the performance class of my Bashforth interpreter which shows a rather acceptable interactive performance.
Currently are programs
for the VM
cross compiled on a host computer, and compiler output copied to
the device over the air, using rsync.
The compiler
has been written in bash.
This github repository is mostly suited for the file based components
(programs, library, compiler, support scripts).
For the VM,
the Automate forum
is likely a better place, as it provides a preview possibility.
This project is in a very alpha state, in fact, it's hardly useful at this point, though it's hard to speak of "useful" with such a project. It's fun though, trying to run Forth on another rather unlikely platform.
Goal and purpose of the Flowforth VM was to give me a kickstart into the Automate tool: As former Automagic (a similar automation app which isn't maintained any longer) user I needed an alternative, and to get familiar with it quickly.