Does GNU FORTH have an editor?

Question

Chapter 3 of Starting FORTH says,

Now that you've made a block "current", you can list it by simply typing the word L. Unlike LIST, L does not want to be proceeded by a block number; instead it lists the current block.

When I run 180 LIST, I get

Screen 180 not modified     
0                                                                 
...                                                             
15                                                                 
 ok

But when I run L, I get an error

:30: Undefined word
>>>L<<<
Backtrace:
$7F0876E99A68 throw 
$7F0876EAFDE0 no.extensions 
$7F0876E99D28 interpreter-notfound1 

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Yes, gForth supports an internal (BLOCK) editor. Start gforth

1. type: use blocked.fb (a demo page)
2. type: 1 load
3. type editor

4. words will show the editor words,

   s b n bx nx qx dl il f y r d i t 'par 'line 'rest c a m  ok
   

5. type 0 l to list screen 0 which describes the editor,

   Screen 0 not modified     
    0 \\ some comments on this simple editor                 29aug95py
    1 m marks current position        a goes to marked position       
    2 c moves cursor by n chars       t goes to line n and inserts    
    3 i inserts                       d deletes marked area           
    4 r replaces marked area          f search and mark               
    5 il insert a line                dl delete a line                
    6 qx gives a quick index          nx gives next index             
    7 bx gives previous index                                         
    8 n goes to next screen           b goes to previous screen       
    9 l goes to screen n              v goes to current screen        
   10 s searches until screen n       y yank deleted string           
   11                                                                 
   12 Syntax and implementation style a la PolyFORTH                  
   13 If you don't like it, write a block editor mode for Emacs!      
   14                                                                 
   15                                                                 
    ok
   

Creating your own block file

To create your own new block file myblocks.fb

1. type: use blocked.fb
2. type: 1 load
3. type editor

Then

1. type use myblocks.fb
2. 1 load will show BLOCK #1 (lines 0 till 15. 16 Lines of 64 characters each)
3. 1 t will highlight line 1
4. Type i this is text to [i]nsert into line 1
5. After the current BLOCK is edited type flush in order to write BLOCK #1 to the file myblocks.fb

For more information see, gForth Blocks