[348] 2024-07-01 12:02:00 ruv wrote:

requestClarification - Stack diagram for `{:`

The glossary entry for the word {: says:

Compilation: ( i*x "<spaces>ccc :}" -- )

There seems to be a typo here. Actually, nothing can be consumed from the data stack when the word {: is encountered by the Forth text interpreter in compilation state.

[r1263] 2024-06-29 16:15:09 AntonErtl replies:

requestClarification - Behavior of `represent` when buffer length is zero

The character string shall consist of the u most significant digits of the significand

So with u=0 zero characters must be written to c-addr. Any implementation that writes something there is buggy. An exception for u=0 is also a bug (and in case of Gforth this bug will be fixed).

There is no basis for any claim that the u=0 case is unclear or unspecified. And unsurprisingly, the person who claimed so presented no argument that would support such a claim. Given that, why do you request clarification? I don't think that the person who makes such claims will be swayed any more by an answer to such a request than by the clear wording cited above.

But given that this has been brought up, we should add at least one test case that tests u=0. These test cases should also check that nothing is written at c-addr in that case. So your test cases are not quite there.

Closing this because it is clearly specified.

[r1264] 2024-06-30 13:53:25 ruv replies:

requestClarification - Why do we use +n and not u in the stack diagram for n>r and nr>

In all cases where a stack parameter means the number of items on the stack, or a non-negative index of an item on the stack, this parameter shall have the data type "non-negative number" and the symbol +n should be used for this parameter in a stack diagram.

Rationale

1. We should use the smallest appropriate data type to describe a stack parameter. Thus, if it's known that a stack parameter always belongs to +n, we should not use the larger data type u to describe this parameter.

2. We shall be consistent. The word depth ( -- +n ) specifies that the returned parameter belongs to +n, that is, the stack depth cannot be more than max-n (the largest usable signed integer, see 3.2.6). It means, for other words, a count of some items on the stack or a non-negative index of a stack item shall be described with +n (or with a subtype of +n).

3. In practice, it is almost impossible that the stack depth increases max-n. Because max-n means that the stack takes amount of memory that is equal to at least a half of theoretically available data space in a Forth system.

[r1265] 2024-07-01 17:00:40 ruv replies:

requestClarification - Stack diagram for `{:`

Probably, a more correct stack diagram is:

• Compilation: ( C: colon-sys -- colon-sys ) ( "ccc :}" -- )