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The following documentation is necessary to comply for Ficl to comply with the DPANS94 standard. It describes what areas of the standard Ficl implements, what areas it does not, and how it behaves in areas undefined by the standard.

ANS Forth System

Providing names from the Core Extensions word set
Providing names from the Double-Number word set
Providing the Exception word set
Providing the Exception Extensions word set
Providing the File-Access word set
Providing the File-Access Extensions word set
Providing names from the Floating-Point word set
Providing the Locals word set
Providing the Locals Extensions word set
Providing the Memory Allocation word set
Providing the Programming-Tools word set
Providing names from the Programming-Tools Extensions word set
Providing the Search-Order word set
Providing the Search-Order Extensions word set
Providing names from the String Extensions word set

Implementation-defined Options

The implementation-defined items in the following list represent characteristics and choices left to the discretion of the implementor, provided that the requirements of the Standard are met. A system shall document the values for, or behaviors of, each item.

aligned address requirements (3.1.3.3 Addresses)

System dependent. You can change the default address alignment by defining FICL_ALIGN on your compiler's command line, or in platform.h. The default value is set to 2 in ficl.h. This causes dictionary entries and ALIGN and ALIGNED to align on 4 byte boundaries. To align on 2ⁿ byte boundaries, set FICL_ALIGN to n.

behavior of 6.1.1320 EMIT for non-graphic characters

Depends on target system, C runtime library, and your implementation of ficlTextOut().

character editing of 6.1.0695 ACCEPT and 6.2.1390 EXPECT

None implemented in the versions supplied in primitives.c. Because ficlEvaluate() is supplied a text buffer externally, it's up to your system to define how that buffer will be obtained.

character set (3.1.2 Character types, 6.1.1320 EMIT, 6.1.1750 KEY)

Depends on target system and implementation of ficlTextOut().

character-aligned address requirements (3.1.3.3 Addresses)

Ficl characters are one byte each. There are no alignment requirements.

character-set-extensions matching characteristics (3.4.2 Finding definition names)

No special processing is performed on characters beyond case-folding. Therefore, extended characters will not match their unaccented counterparts.

conditions under which control characters match a space delimiter (3.4.1.1 Delimiters)

Ficl uses the Standard C function isspace() to distinguish space characters.

format of the control-flow stack (3.2.3.2 Control-flow stack)

Uses the data stack.

conversion of digits larger than thirty-five (3.2.1.2 Digit conversion)

The maximum supported value of BASE is 36. Ficl will fail via assertion in function ltoa() of utility.c if the base is found to be larger than 36 or smaller than 2. There will be no effect if NDEBUG is defined, however, other than possibly unexpected behavior.

display after input terminates in 6.1.0695 ACCEPT and 6.2.1390 EXPECT

Target system dependent.

exception abort sequence (as in 6.1.0680 ABORT")

Calls ABORT to exit.

input line terminator (3.2.4.1 User input device)

Target system dependent (implementation of outer loop that calls ficlEvaluate()).

maximum size of a counted string, in characters (3.1.3.4 Counted strings, 6.1.2450 WORD)

Counted strings are limited to 255 characters.

maximum size of a parsed string (3.4.1 Parsing)

Limited by available memory and the maximum unsigned value that can fit in a cell (2³²-1).

maximum size of a definition name, in characters (3.3.1.2 Definition names)

Ficl stores the first 31 characters of a definition name.

maximum string length for 6.1.1345 ENVIRONMENT?, in characters

Same as maximum definition name length.

method of selecting 3.2.4.1 User input device

None supported. This is up to the target system.

method of selecting 3.2.4.2 User output device

None supported. This is up to the target system.

methods of dictionary compilation (3.3 The Forth dictionary)

Okay, we don't know what this means. If you understand what they're asking for here, please call the home office.

number of bits in one address unit (3.1.3.3 Addresses)

Target system dependent, either 32 or 64 bits.

number representation and arithmetic (3.2.1.1 Internal number representation)

System dependent. Ficl represents a CELL internally as a union that can hold a ficlInteger32 (a signed 32 bit scalar value), a ficlUnsigned32 (32 bits unsigned), and an untyped pointer. No specific byte ordering is assumed.

ranges for n, +n, u, d, +d, and ud (3.1.3 Single-cell types, 3.1.4 Cell-pair types)

System dependent. Assuming a 32 bit implementation, range for signed single-cell values is [-2³¹, 2³¹-1]. Range for unsigned single cell values is [0, 2³²-1]. Range for signed double-cell values is [-2⁶³, 2⁶³-1]. Range for unsigned double cell values is [0, 2⁶⁴-1].

read-only data-space regions (3.3.3 Data space)

None.

size of buffer at 6.1.2450 WORD (3.3.3.6 Other transient regions)

Default is 255. Depends on the setting of FICL_PAD_SIZE in ficl.h.

size of one cell in address units (3.1.3 Single-cell types)

System dependent, generally 4.

size of one character in address units (3.1.2 Character types)

System dependent, generally 1.

size of the keyboard terminal input buffer (3.3.3.5 Input buffers)

This buffer is supplied by the host program. Ficl imposes no practical limit.

size of the pictured numeric output string buffer (3.3.3.6 Other transient regions)

Default is 255. Depends on the setting of FICL_PAD_SIZE in ficl.h.

size of the scratch area whose address is returned by 6.2.2000 PAD (3.3.3.6 Other transient regions)

Default is 255. Depends on the setting of FICL_PAD_SIZE in ficl.h.

system case-sensitivity characteristics (3.4.2 Finding definition names)

The Ficl dictionary is not case-sensitive.

system prompt (3.4 The Forth text interpreter, 6.1.2050 QUIT)

ok>

type of division rounding (3.2.2.1 Integer division, 6.1.0100 */, 6.1.0110 */MOD, 6.1.0230 /, 6.1.0240 /MOD, 6.1.1890 MOD)

Symmetric.

values of 6.1.2250 STATE when true

1.

values returned after arithmetic overflow (3.2.2.2 Other integer operations)

System dependent. Ficl makes no special checks for overflow.

whether the current definition can be found after 6.1.1250 DOES> (6.1.0450 :)

No. Definitions are unsmudged after ; only, and only then if no control structure matching problems have been detected.

Ambiguous Conditions

a name is neither a valid definition name nor a valid number during text interpretation (3.4 The Forth text interpreter)

Ficl calls ABORT then prints the name followed by not found.

a definition name exceeded the maximum length allowed (3.3.1.2 Definition names)

Ficl stores the first 31 characters of the definition name, and uses all characters of the name in computing its hash code. The actual length of the name, up to 255 characters, is stored in the definition's length field.

addressing a region not listed in 3.3.3 Data Space

No problem: all addresses in Ficl are absolute. You can reach any 32 bit address in Ficl's address space.

argument type incompatible with specified input parameter, e.g., passing a flag to a word expecting an n (3.1 Data types)

Ficl makes no check for argument type compatibility. Effects of a mismatch vary widely depending on the specific problem and operands.

attempting to obtain the execution token, (e.g., with 6.1.0070 ', 6.1.1550 FIND, etc.) of a definition with undefined interpretation semantics

Ficl returns a valid token, but the result of executing that token while interpreting may be undesirable.

dividing by zero (6.1.0100 */, 6.1.0110 */MOD, 6.1.0230 /, 6.1.0240 /MOD, 6.1.1561 FM/MOD, 6.1.1890 MOD, 6.1.2214 SM/REM, 6.1.2370 UM/MOD, 8.6.1.1820 M*/)

Results are target procesor dependent. Generally, Ficl makes no check for divide-by-zero. The target processor will probably throw an exception.

insufficient data-stack space or return-stack space (stack overflow)

With FICL_ROBUST (defined in ficl.h) set to a value of 2 or greater, most data, float, and return stack operations are checked for underflow and overflow.

insufficient space for loop-control parameters

This is not checked, and bad things will happen.

insufficient space in the dictionary

Ficl generates an error message if the dictionary is too full to create a definition header. It checks ALLOT as well, but it is possible to make an unchecked allocation request that will overflow the dictionary.

interpreting a word with undefined interpretation semantics

Ficl protects all ANS Forth words with undefined interpretation semantics from being executed while in interpret state. It is possible to defeat this protection using ' (tick) and EXECUTE though.

modifying the contents of the input buffer or a string literal (3.3.3.4 Text-literal regions, 3.3.3.5 Input buffers)

Varies depending on the nature of the buffer. The input buffer is supplied by ficl's host function, and may reside in read-only memory. If so, writing the input buffer can ganerate an exception. String literals are stored in the dictionary, and are writable.

overflow of a pictured numeric output string

In the unlikely event you are able to construct a pictured numeric string of more than FICL_PAD_LENGTH characters, the system will be corrupted unpredictably. The buffer area that holds pictured numeric output is at the end of the virtual machine. Whatever is mapped after the offending VM in memory will be trashed, along with the heap structures that contain it.

parsed string overflow

Ficl does not copy parsed strings unless asked to. Ordinarily, a string parsed from the input buffer during normal interpretation is left in-place, so there is no possibility of overflow. If you ask to parse a string into the dictionary, as in SLITERAL, you need to have enough room for the string, otherwise bad things may happen. This is usually not a problem.

producing a result out of range, e.g., multiplication (using *) results in a value too big to be represented by a single-cell integer (6.1.0090 *, 6.1.0100 */, 6.1.0110 */MOD, 6.1.0570, >NUMBER, 6.1.1561 FM/MOD, 6.1.2214 SM/REM, 6.1.2370 UM/MOD, 6.2.0970 CONVERT, 8.6.1.1820 M*/)

Value will be truncated.

reading from an empty data stack or return stack (stack underflow)

Most stack underflows are detected and prevented if FICL_ROBUST (defined in sysdep.h) is set to 2 or greater. Otherwise, the stack pointer and size are likely to be trashed.

unexpected end of input buffer, resulting in an attempt to use a zero-length string as a name

Ficl returns for a new input buffer until a non-empty one is supplied.

The following specific ambiguous conditions are noted in the glossary entries of the relevant words:

>IN greater than size of input buffer (3.4.1 Parsing)

Memory corruption will occur—the exact behavior is unpredictable because the input buffer is supplied by the host program's outer loop.

6.1.2120 RECURSE appears after 6.1.1250 DOES>

It finds the address of the definition before DOES>

argument input source different than current input source for 6.2.2148 RESTORE-INPUT

Not implemented.

data space containing definitions is de-allocated (3.3.3.2 Contiguous regions)

This is okay until the cells are overwritten with something else. The dictionary maintains a hash table, and the table must be updated in order to de-allocate words without corruption.

data space read/write with incorrect alignment (3.3.3.1 Address alignment)

Target processor dependent. Consequences include: none (Intel), address error exception (68K).

data-space pointer not properly aligned (6.1.0150 ,, 6.1.0860 C,)

See above on data space read/write alignment.

less than u+2 stack items (6.2.2030 PICK, 6.2.2150 ROLL)

If FICL_ROBUST is two or larger, Ficl will detect a stack underflow, report it, and execute ABORT to exit execution. Otherwise the error will not be detected, and memory corruption will occur.

loop-control parameters not available ( 6.1.0140 +LOOP, 6.1.1680 I, 6.1.1730 J, 6.1.1760 LEAVE, 6.1.1800 LOOP, 6.1.2380 UNLOOP)

Loop initiation words are responsible for checking the stack and guaranteeing that the control parameters are pushed. Any underflows will be detected early if FICL_ROBUST is set to 2 or greater. Note however that Ficl only checks for return stack underflows at the end of each line of text.

most recent definition does not have a name (6.1.1710 IMMEDIATE)

No problem.

name not defined by 6.2.2405 VALUE used by 6.2.2295 TO

Ficl's version of TO works correctly with words defined with:

• VALUE
• 2VALUE
• FVALUE
• F2VALUE
• CONSTANT
• FCONSTANT
• 2CONSTANT
• F2CONSTANT
• VARIABLE
• 2VARIABLE

as well as with all "local" variables.

name not found (6.1.0070 ', 6.1.2033 POSTPONE, 6.1.2510 ['], 6.2.2530 [COMPILE])

Ficl prints an error message and executes ABORT

parameters are not of the same type (6.1.1240 DO, 6.2.0620 ?DO, 6.2.2440 WITHIN)

Not detected. Results vary depending on the specific problem.

6.1.2033 POSTPONE or 6.2.2530 [COMPILE] applied to 6.2.2295 TO

The word is postponed correctly.

string longer than a counted string returned by 6.1.2450 WORD

Ficl stores the first FICL_COUNTED_STRING_MAX - 1 characters in the destination buffer. (The extra character is the trailing space required by the standard. Yuck.)

u greater than or equal to the number of bits in a cell (6.1.1805 LSHIFT, 6.1.2162 RSHIFT)

Depends on target process or and C runtime library implementations of the << and >> operators on unsigned values. For I386, the processor appears to shift modulo the number of bits in a cell.

word not defined via 6.1.1000 CREATE (6.1.0550 >BODY, 6.1.1250 DOES>)

words improperly used outside 6.1.0490 <# and 6.1.0040 #> (6.1.0030 #, 6.1.0050 #S, 6.1.1670 HOLD, 6.1.2210 SIGN)

Undefined. CREATE reserves a field in words it builds for DOES> to fill in. If you use DOES> on a word not made by CREATE it will overwrite the first cell of its parameter area. That's probably not what you want. Likewise, pictured numeric words assume that there is a string under construction in the VM's scratch buffer. If that's not the case, results may be unpleasant.

Locals Implementation-Defined Options

maximum number of locals in a definition (13.3.3 Processing locals, 13.6.2.1795 LOCALS|)

Default is 64—unused locals are cheap. Change by redefining FICL_MAX_LOCALS (defined in ficl.h).

Locals Ambiguous conditions

executing a named local while in interpretation state (13.6.1.0086 (LOCAL))

Locals can be found in interpretation state while in the context of a definition under construction. Under these circumstances, locals behave correctly. Locals are not visible at all outside the scope of a definition.

name not defined by VALUE or LOCAL (13.6.1.2295 TO)

See the CORE ambiguous conditions, above (no change).

Programming Tools Implementation-Defined Options

source and format of display by 15.6.1.2194 SEE

SEE de-compiles definitions from the dictionary. Ficl words are stored as a combination of things:

1. bytecodes (identified as "instructions"),
2. addresses of native Ficl functions, and
3. arguments to both of the above.

Colon definitions are decompiled. Branching instructions indicate their destination, but target labels are not reconstructed. Literals and string literals are so noted, and their contents displayed.

Search Order Implementation-Defined Options

maximum number of word lists in the search order (16.3.3 Finding definition names, 16.6.1.2197 SET-ORDER)

Defaults to 16. Can be changed by redefining FICL_MAX_WORDLISTS (declared in ficl.h).

minimum search order (16.6.1.2197 SET-ORDER, 16.6.2.1965 ONLY)

Equivalent to FORTH-WORDLIST 1 SET-ORDER

Search Order Ambiguous Conditions

changing the compilation word list (16.3.3 Finding definition names)

Ficl stores a link to the current definition independently of the compile wordlist while it is being defined, and links it into the compile wordlist only after the definition completes successfully. Changing the compile wordlist mid-definition will cause the definition to link into the new compile wordlist.

search order empty (16.6.2.2037 PREVIOUS)

Ficl prints an error message if the search order underflows, and resets the order to its default state.

too many word lists in search order (16.6.2.0715 ALSO)

Ficl prints an error message if the search order overflows, and resets the order to its default state.