jhv (11/30/82)
I am a hardware/software hacker. I brought up figFORTH on my S-100 Z-80 based system a couple of years ago, and last month I bought valFORTH (a figFORTH derivative) for my ATARI 400. I have found the FORTH system (combination interpreter, compiler, editor, disk manager, etc.) useful for my style of hacking. I like the built-in number base conversion; I like the simple access to I/O ports and absolute memory locations; I like writing I/O drivers with a combination of high level and low level definitions when I am debugging hardware, software and driver logic simultaneously; and I am impressed with the assemblers and interpreters which can be defined in FORTH in a few screens each. I find the figFORTH editor awkward, but other FORTH editors are available which are easier to use. In summary, I find FORTH a useful tool for some of my hacking, but I also find assembly language, BASIC, PILOT, C, etc. appropriate for other applications. James Van Ornum BTL Freehold houxw!jhv