Features  

• ANS standard Forth with many extensions
• VFX code generator – generates native code with optimisation - see the benchmark results!
• Direct access to source with LOCATE and XREF.
• Robust exception handling
• Graphics EGA/VGA 16-colour mode graphics support
• Screen support Direct screen drive with pop-up and tiled text windows
• Online disassembler and decompiler
• PowerNet Telnet and Web servers
• Examples and libraries.
• HTML and PDF Online help
• DOCGEN documentation generator
• Internationalisation support for multiple languages
• Rapid development.
• System resources give you full control.
• Fully Compatible with DOS 6.x to Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP and Vista.
• Compatibility with other MPE Products.
• Support services – standard, extended and advanced technical support.
• Coming soon - VFX Forth for Linux!

Since VFX Forth for DOS shares code with the other VFX Forth products, please refer to the Windows version for more a more detailed description of aspects such as code generation.

Read the latest release notes. The current release is v4.1.

VFX Code Generator

MPE's VFX Forth products have consistently proven themselves to be the fastest Forth systems available. The benchmarks to prove it are on our web site. The v4.0 release includes many detailed changes to the code generator making v4.0 even faster than before with no increase in code size.

VFX Forth‘s VFX code generator generates native code with optimisation and inlining. Using mainstream compiler techniques the VFX optimiser can merge many Forth words and reduce memory access to a minimum.

Users of previous threaded code systems such as ProForth for DOS should note that applications can be expected to run over ten times faster, and that writing CODE definitions is now unnecessary.

Local Variables

Modern programming regularly requires the use of temporary buffers and variables. VFX Forth incorporates MPE’s extended local variable syntax as well as the default ANS syntax. Of course these are fully optimised by the VFX code generator. The following example is taken from the DOS environment string handler. Var$ and Dest$ are named inputs and temp$[ is a local buffer.

: GetEnvVar	\ var$ dest$ --
\ *G Extract the environment variable *\i{var$} and place its
\ ** string value at *\i{dest$}. Both strings are counted strings, e.g.
\ *E  c" COMSPEC=" root-buff GetEnvVar
\ **  root-buff count type
  { var$ dest$ | temp$[ #256 ] -- }
  ...
;

Robust Exception Handling

VFX Forth uses the ANS Forth CATCH and THROW mechanism for nested exception handling.

Graphics

VFX Forth for DOS includes graphics functions compatible with modes of current video adaptors. The functions include lines, circles, arcs, boxes, polygons, flooded areas and background colours. Different line types may be selected and text may be mixed on the screen.

The graphics functions are provided by BGI (Borland Graphics Interface), for which a wide range of video drivers are available.

Screen Control

All functions drive the screen direct by default. This may be directed to other devices through the vectored I/O system used by ProForth for DOS. Support for text windows is also built-in - tiled windows, pop-up windows, with or without borders, headers, etc. Windows may be opened, closed, moved, reopened, etc. at will, both interactively and under program control. BIOS and ANSI support are also included.

Source Management

VFX Forth includes a cross reference tool that allows you to find out and display where words are used, and also to find out which words are unused for final code reduction. Just type LOCATE <name> and the source code for <name> is there on the screen for viewing or editing. XREF <name> will tell you where the word is used, and XREF-UNUSED will tell you which words in your application have not been used.

Examples and Libraries

VFX Forth comes with a wide range of application examples.

Libraries include multitasking, floating point, serial communications, benchmarks, BNF parsers, binary overlays, full file system support, and more than a dozen application-oriented examples to get you off to a flying start.

PowerNet

The PowerNet Echo, Telnet and Web servers are available for VFX Forth for DOS at extra charge. Note that because of the variations between DOS versions and facilities, you may need to write an Ethernet driver. MPE can provide consultancy support.

These are multi-threaded servers. The Web server supports CGI and ASP, with Forth being used as the scripting language. SOAP, XML and Web Services are provided for direct interchange of information between VFX Forth and and any web service enabled product such as MS Excel and Project. The PowerNet shipped with VFX Forth is an enhancement of the code in the embedded verion, so see the PowerNet page for more details of PowerNet

PowerNet can be embedded inside your applications to provide fully Web enabled systems. Note that

DocGen Documentation and Help Generator

Built into VFX Forth, the DocGen system can produce documentation for code while it is being compiled. DocGen processes formal comments in your source code, extracts them, and formats them into word processor files in HTML, PDF, TEX or user definable formats. Now your source code can include an up to date manual for your project! The VFX Forth manual is itself built this way. The following example is part of the source code for selector chains.

: exec-chain? \ i*x n addr -- j*x true | n FALSE ; MPE.0000
( *G Run through a given chain using TOS as a selector. If a match is )
( ** made execute the relevant code block and return TRUE otherwise )
( ** the initial selector and a FALSE flag is returned. )
   ...
;

The result is the automatic generation of the glossary entry for this word in the manual. DocGen allows multiple files and sections, table of contents, titlepage generation, several levels of headings, special facilities for examples, and a choice of public or internal release documentation.

Internationalisation

The file LIB\INTERNATIONAL.FTH permits full internationalisation of applications according to the ANS draft standard for internationalisation.

You can define text messages to be internationalised. A simple set of hooks allow you to export text for translation and later reloading at run time.

Rapid Development

Conventional DOS programming requires you to use an editor, language compiler, resource compiler, and finally a linker before even a small change can be tested. With VFX Forth, you just make your change using your favourite editor and recompile directly into executable form in seconds.

VFX Forth includes all the tools you need to create bound turnkey DOS applications.

System Resources Give You Full Control

VFX Forth for DOS provides a complete set of system resources and development tools to give you maximum control over your application. These include:

• Binary overlays
• Dynamic heap management
• 80386/387 assemblers
• Turnkey application generator

VFX Forth includes all tools required to compile, test and create bound versions of your applications for distribution.

Fully Compatible with DOS and DOS boxes in Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP

We use a royalty-free DOS extender which is supplied with full source code. Turnkey applications are bound with the DOS extender to make stand-alone applications for distribution. VFX Forth for DOS is the only package you need to develop and ship DOS protected mode applications.

System Requirements:

• Any version of DOS 6.x or Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP.
• A maths co-processor is required for floating-point maths.

Compatibility with other MPE Products

The VFX Forth kernel is source-code compatible with MPE’s Forth 6 cross compilers, and compatibility for earlier versions of VFX Forth for DOS and MPE's Forth 83 standard products has been made simple. A harness exists to ease conversion from ProForth for DOS.

Ordering

VFX Forth for DOS is available in three editions, see the price list, which differ in the level of source code and technical support provided:

Standard: Full system with turnkey application generation, full kernel sources except for the VFX code generator but no cross compiler or tool source code. No PowerNet.
Professional: Full system with the PowerNet web server, all kernel sources and the MPE Forth 6 VFX 386+ cross compiler. With this system you can modify and extend the VFX Forth system. Requires a Non-Disclosure Agreement to be signed.
Mission: Full system with all sources and cross compiler, and full source for all support tools, including the cross compiler, EXE file generator. Requires a Non-Disclosure Agreement to be signed.

Note that educational users can obtain all the VFX Forth editions at a 50% discount.

Upgrades are available from one version to another.

Support Services

MPE has been supporting professional Forth users since 1981. We offer the following services:

Standard Support

Fax and email hotline technical support on the use of VFX Forth. Within 3 months of purchase any updates are provided free of charge.

Extended Technical support

• All upgrades as they are released from development, usually 4 times per year
• Direct access to the development team
• Involvement in the development cycle
• Annual fee

Advanced Technical Support

• Forth Programming Courses
• Custom Application Design
• Programming Services

Go to the pricelist page