| Leo: |
Last time we discussed Signed and Unsigned.
Today, I'd like you to tell me more about THROW.
I know THROW expects a number on the data stack.
When this number is zero, nothing happens.
Other values cause Forth to abort the program,
sometimes after printing "error: message such and such."
For example, the result of -14 THROW is
Compile-only word (message # -14)
I'm sure there is more to tell about this mechanism.
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| Theo: |
Certainly. But let's take a detour first.
You already know about EXECUTE.
What do you expect the following does?
17 ' DUP EXECUTE .S
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| Leo: |
Easy.
' (Tick) finds DUP, and EXECUTE runs DUP's code.
It does the same as a simple DUP.
[rtn] ( 17 17 ) ok
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| Theo: |
Indeed. One moment, let me define a word to ... O.K.,
you can tell me what EX does:
: EX BEGIN DEPTH 0> WHILE DROP REPEAT ;
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| Leo: |
In case DEPTH is not zero, numbers are dropped off the stack.
Thus EX cleans up the stack.
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| Theo: |
O.K. Here's Puzzle # 1. What does this do:
EX 1 ' DUP CATCH .S
Let me add that in this case CATCH has almost the same effect as EXECUTE. The difference is that CATCH additionally places a zero on the stack. Deduce the answer before pressing [rtn].
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