Re: Structured Programming using Forth

Duke Normandin <merrile@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hey all...

Julian Noble in his "A Beginner's Guide to Forth" briefly addresses the
topic of "structured programming", outlining both the "top-down" and
"bottom-up" methods of software development.

Because Forth is inherently best suited for the "bottom-up" method,
would it not make sense to:

Planning & Design Phase => use "top-down" method
"divide & conquer" the task to the lowest level possible

Implementation Phase => use "bottom-up" method to program the solution
Start "playing" at the lowest level identified in the Planning &
Design Phase. Factor the task even more if appropriate.

Would this not allow the best of both methods? Or are the two mutually
exclusive for some reason that I'm not seeing?

"Bottom-up" versus "top-down" is a very old-fashioned way of thinking
about software development. It has never been applicable to Forth.
Instead, Forth developers have always uses an iterative and
incremental development model. This involves building successive
versions and learning from the development and use of the system at
each iteration. At each stage, refactoring is done if it's needed.

There are many contemporary buzzwords for approaches similar to this
(such as "agile software development") but the basic principle has
always been used by Forth developers. Forth is very good for this,
because of its incremental compiler and ease of interaction.

Andrew.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Structured Programming using Forth
    ... "bottom-up" methods of software development. ... Start "playing" at the lowest level identified in the Planning & ... incremental development model. ... each iteration. ...
    (comp.lang.forth)
  • Re: Structured Programming using Forth
    ... thinking about software development. ... and incremental development model. ... the system at each iteration. ... you get closer to a final product in the prototype phase, at least if you understand the problem domain adequately before you start. ...
    (comp.lang.forth)
  • Re: Structured Programming using Forth
    ... Duke Normandin wrote: ... thinking about software development. ... and incremental development model. ... the system at each iteration. ...
    (comp.lang.forth)
  • One file for a product or a serparate for each iteration?
    ... What is best for making up a planning for software development; ... the benifit of an overall view and all the history in one file, ... Use one file for each iteration of the product, ...
    (microsoft.public.project)