B8Script scripting language. Looking for Beta testers

[Robb Bates]

I have written a programming language called B8Script and am looking for some beta testers and developers to create some plugin extensions for it.

This was done primarily to get a technical concept out of my head.  But it was also a reason to learn Z80/CPM programming.  And boy have I!  That lovin' feeling is no longer lost!  I don't really expect anyone to use it for anything serious.  But it would be cool if they did. It's just a fun little project for myself.

Uses 16-bit signed numbers (from -32768 to +32767)
Uses post-fix notation
Uses single printable ASCII characters as commands
Has a built-in line editor with script save and load capabilities
Recurseable procedures
Is extensible using plugins and inline machine code
Fits in a 2kb or less CP/M .COM file

If you are familiar with Forth or just want to try out a new programming language, and are willing to actually put it through its paces, try to break it and give me solid feedback, please reply to this post.  Only reply if you will commit to doing some real testing, not just want to play around with it.  The full version will be released once beta testing has been completed.  I don't want to ship something broken.

If you also know Z80 assembly and are familiar with relocatable position independent coding techniques, that would be even better.

Thanks,

Robb Bates (aka ROB8S)

[Robb Bates]

Sneak peek at the user manual to get an idea of what it's all about.

B8Script User Manual beta

Thanks,

Robb B8S

[Robb Bates]

Well, what I meant was reply to this and let me know if you want to beta test if you'll actually test.

Anyone else can ask questions or make comments.

Robb

[Robb Bates]

No takers?

OK, anyone can try it out.  Just give me some feedback please.  Good, bad or indifferent.

B8Script GitHub

Robb

[Doug Jackson]

Hi Robb,

That looks interesting - I will fire up a CP/M system in the next couple of days and see if I can make it work.  Work is a bit busy though :-)

Kindest regards,

Doug Jackson

em: do...@doughq.com

ph: 0414 986878

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RC2014-Z80" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rc2014-z80+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rc2014-z80/9c7b6724-4994-45a2-a158-789b088132fen%40googlegroups.com.

[Peter Onion]

On Tue, 2025-11-25 at 11:13 -0800, Robb Bates wrote:
> I have written a programming language called B8Script and am looking for some beta
> testers and developers to create some plugin extensions for it.
>
>

Robb,

I would normally have a go with this, but it just happens that I've already got three
FORTH related projects on the go right now,
1) Camel-FORTH for my expanded Orton 3C.
2) Camel-FORTH for CP/M (adding in CP/M file handling words).
3) A FORTH-like language for the Elliott 803 at TNMOC.

No. 3 is proving to be an interesting challenge !

PeterO

[Robb Bates]

Maybe at least just play with it and give me your opinion.

[Wayne Warthen]

Hi Robb,

I would be happy to try it.  I really don't have time to do anything serious with it though.

Thanks, Wayne

[Robb Bates]

I've added the source code.  I would love your opinion on it, Wayne.  I have most definitely learned a lot about Z80 and CP/M programming.  That loving feeling is no longer lost!  No magical black boxes.  Also learned a tremendous amount of optimizing techniques.  I think I'm out of bytes (goal <= 2048) and then I see something else to factor out or re-code a slightly different way to get another byte here or there.  Suddenly, another 30 or 50 bytes available to enhance the features.

Robb

[Robb Bates]

Oops.  Simple bug propagated through the rest of the files and broke it all.

Fixed now.  Also uploaded the plugin source codes.

Robb