From: "Frank Q" 
To: 
Reply-To: "Frank Q" 


Hi All

See comments below

Cheers
Frank Q

> > Wow - I haven't heard anyone even mention Forth in years.
>
> Forth would have some advantages, it makes quite compact code, and for an
> interpreted language, runs pretty fast.  It helps if you don't layer the
"words"

With today's modern processors, does anyone really have to worry about speed?
And memory is also inexpensive, so why worry about squeezing the most from
your EEPROMS?

> work in Java can honestly say Forth is bad for readabilty, or those
regular

A modern language like C is much more readable than Forth. This makes it easier
to debug, maintain and upgrade. And compilers for almost any processors are available
for free - just check out the " news.comp.lang*** " (spelling??)
news groups.

>
> I think the Zilog Z80 derived microprocessors and the ones derived from
the
> Motorola 6800/6502 might be a bit more efficient with Forth than the 8080

I worked on a 6809 using forth. It was pretty fast but in the end it was false
economy for the reasons mentioned above (and below).

> derivatives.  (I think the 8080 family adressing modes are lousy!)  Back
in the
> early days of microcomputers, the Z80's got a bad shake because they
mostly had
> to run code written for the 8080.  The Z80 has more powerful addressing
modes
> that would streamline a lot of code, but even back then, Intel was on top
of the
> compatibility heap.  The Motorola 68000 would be especially good, but that
may
> be more horsepower than you want for a drive controller.

The 68010 (sibling to the 68000) is my favourite CPU however, I consider it a
"low grade CPU" when compared to the the likes of the 68020, 68030, 68040.

On the other hand, the 68008 (8 bit version (sort of) of the 68000) would be ideal.
Plenty of processing power; byte-sized bus = easy interface to peripheral devices;
minimal useable system costs next to nothing and fits in half a shoe box.

My experience has been that it just simply isn't worth the wasted time,
effort, stress, frustration
of trying to squeeze the most out of inadequate hardware and obfuscated software
when for a few (very few nowadays) extra dollars you can get the right
tools for the job
and concentrate on developing the tracking system and get your scope going - not to
mention the satisfaction that comes with a finished job. Of course if you
enjoy designing
microprocessor systems and writing assemblers, compilers and the like as I
do, then go for it!!

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