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Related research and inspiration

Programming languages which inspired Factor:

  • Forth - the canonical stack language
  • Joy - Factor's primary inspiration
  • Common Lisp - the king of programming languages
  • Slate - sophisticated Smalltalk/Self/Common Lisp hybrid

Other stack-based languages:

  • StrongForth - statically-typed Forth dialect
  • Cat - statically-typed Joy dialect
  • Raven - indentation-sensitive syntax (like Python)
  • Onyx - native threading, object oriented, PostScript-like

Other interesting programming languages:

  • Self - pioneering work in advanced high level language compilation and user interfaces
  • Squeak Smalltalk - image-based development in an integrated environment
  • Oberon - statically-typed programming language, interactive development environment, innovative GUI, operating system

Interesting Forth implementations:

Reading material:

  • Steel Bank Common Lisp - a specific implementation whose design and code influenced Factor
  • CLIM specification - Factor's UI toolkit borrows ideas from CLIM but is (significantly) simpler
  • Garnet GUI toolkit - a GUI toolkit implemented in Common Lisp with its own prototype-based object system; Garnet's "constraints" inspired the Factor UI's "models"
  • Starting Forth - well-written Forth tutorial
  • Thinking Forth - classical Forth text, now updated and available online
  • Self project papers - groundbreaking work from Sun Research