I am writing code in Forth that should create a 12x12 array of random numbers from 1 to 8.
create big_array 144 allocate drop
: reset_array big_array 144 0 fill ;
reset_array
variable rnd here rnd !
: random rnd @ 31421 * 6927 + dup rnd ! ;
: choose random um* nip ;
: random_fill 144 1 do 8 choose big_array i + c! loop ;
random_fill
: Array_@ 12 * + big_array swap + c@ ;
: show_small_array cr 12 0 do 12 0 do i j Array_@ 5 u.r loop cr loop ;
show_small_array
However, I notice that elements 128 to 131 of my array are always much larger than expected:
0 4 0 4 2 6 0 5 2 5 7 3
6 3 7 3 7 7 3 1 5 0 6 1
0 3 3 0 3 1 0 7 2 0 4 5
3 7 6 6 2 1 0 2 3 4 2 7
4 7 1 5 3 5 7 2 3 5 3 6
3 0 6 4 1 3 3 2 5 4 4 7
3 2 1 4 3 4 3 7 2 6 5 5
2 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 6 5 6 0
2 5 2 7 3 1 5 0 1 4 6 7
2 0 3 3 0 7 3 6 4 1 3 6
0 1 1 6 0 3 0 2 169 112 41 70
7 2 3 1 2 2 7 6 0 5 1 2
Moreover, when I try to change the value of these elements individually, this causes the other three elements to change value. For example, if I code:
9 choose big_array 128 + c!
then the array will become:
0 4 0 4 2 6 0 5 2 5 7 3
6 3 7 3 7 7 3 1 5 0 6 1
0 3 3 0 3 1 0 7 2 0 4 5
3 7 6 6 2 1 0 2 3 4 2 7
4 7 1 5 3 5 7 2 3 5 3 6
3 0 6 4 1 3 3 2 5 4 4 7
3 2 1 4 3 4 3 7 2 6 5 5
2 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 6 5 6 0
2 5 2 7 3 1 5 0 1 4 6 7
2 0 3 3 0 7 3 6 4 1 3 6
0 1 1 6 0 3 0 2 2 12 194 69
7 2 3 1 2 2 7 6 0 5 1 2
Do you have any idea why these specific elements are always impacted and if there is a way to prevent this?
Better readability and less error prone: 144 allocate ⇨ 144 chars allocate
A mistake: create big_array 144 allocate drop ⇨ create big_array 144 chars allot
A mistake: random um* nip ⇨ random swap mod
A mistake: 144 1 do ⇨ 144 0 do
An excessive operation: big_array swap + ⇨ big_array +
And add the stack comments, please. Especially, when you ask for help.
Do you have any idea why these specific elements are always impacted and if there is a way to prevent this?
Since you try to use memory in the dictionary space without reserving it. This memory is used by the Forth system.