Forthlike

Forthlike refers to a category of programming languages that are inspired by or similar to the Forth programming language, characterized by their stack-based architecture, extensibility, and interactive development environment. Forth, developed by Charles H. Moore in the 1970s, is known for its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to be customized through defining new words (functions).

Languages classified as Forthlike typically adopt many of these core principles, emphasizing a concatenative syntax where functions (or words) are combined in a linear sequence to define new operations. They often provide direct access to memory, support for low-level programming, and an interactive environment for immediate code execution and testing. These languages usually employ a postfix notation, where operators follow their operands.

Examples of Forthlike languages include GForth, SwiftForth, and WinForth, which are implementations of the Forth language itself, as well as more experimental or specialized languages that borrow Forth's fundamental concepts. Some Forthlike languages extend the paradigm to incorporate modern programming features or adapt it for specific applications such as embedded systems, real-time processing, or education.

Forthlike languages are valued for their simplicity, efficiency, and flexibility, particularly in environments where minimal resource usage and direct hardware manipulation are critical. Despite their niche status, they have influenced the design of other stack-based and concatenative languages, and continue to be used in specialized fields and hobbyist programming.

Overall, Forthlike languages represent a distinctive approach to programming that emphasizes minimalism, extensibility, and direct control, maintaining a dedicated user community and ongoing development.