Re: on Perl (was: Command Languages Versus Programming Languages)

On 16/04/2024 10:35, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:14:38 +0200
David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> wrote:

Forth is also the basis for the assembly and code for most stack-based
processors, which are used whenever the smallest die area is needed.  In
particular, 4-bit microcontroller programming is dominated by Forth.
You don't normally see such chips, because they are hidden inside
devices and these days only found within other chips (the last
general-purpose easily available 4-bit microcontroller line was
discontinued about a decade ago).

 Old style digital watches maybe?
 

Sure.  And calculators, remote controls, microwave ovens, wireless keys (cars, garages, etc.), and vast numbers of other devices.  4-bit stack-based microcontrollers were a tiny fraction of the die size (and therefore cost) of even 8-bit devices, and used a tiny fraction of the power (and therefore could have battery lifetimes of a decade or more).
Stand-alone 4-bit microcontrollers are a thing of the past, but you still get them inside other chips as sequencers and handling things like startups or calibration sequences.