What is Forth written in?
Forth is a programming language, first released in 1970.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compiler | Assembly | Classic Forth systems were bootstrapped in assembly. |
Compiler implementation
The Forth compiler, written in Assembly, translates Forth source code into an executable or intermediate format. The choice of implementation language affects the compiler's portability, build-time dependencies, and the path toward Forth eventually becoming self-hosting.
Many language compilers are written in C or C++ for maximum portability and performance. When a compiler is written in a higher-level language, it can leverage that language's abstractions for clearer compiler code, at the cost of a longer bootstrap dependency chain.
Explore in the Graph
See Forth's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the Forth language page for the complete record.