Read me first                  4tH version 3.5d rel. 3, 2009-09-06


4tH is basic framework for creating application specific scripting
languages. It is a library of functions centered around a virtual
machine, which guarantees high performance, ease of use and low overhead.

But in the meanwhile 4tH has acquired a reputation as an educational
tool. Its simplicity makes it perfectly suited to learn Forth, from which
it has been derived.

This package is an attempt to suit both audiences. It contains
instructions how to modify the package in order to fit your own
requirements. 4tH in its current form is a calculator for simple teletype
applications. All its basic building blocks (compiler, interpreter,
decompiler, loader and saver) can be called with a single line of C. No
initialization necessary.

On the other hand there are simple instructions to compile the example
applications, which allows you to compile and run very large 4tH programs
(80386 or better). We also included a host of sample applications, like
an adventure game, a line-editor and a Forth calculator.

It is impossible to answer every thinkable question with documentation.
NEVER EMAIL THE PEOPLE WHOSE SITE YOU GOT THIS FROM! THEY DON'T KNOW
EITHER! INSTEAD, MAIL TO:

      [email protected]

Or visit our website:

      http://hansoft.come.to

We welcome all feedback, so don't hesitate if something is not completely
clear to you or if you want to make a point. This feedback has made 4tH
into what it is today and we want to thank all who took the effort to
think and comment on 4tH.

We want to thank all members of 'comp.lang.forth', especially William
Tanksley and Mikael Cardell. Thank you, William H. Hayes, for introducing
4tH to school. Thanks, Lutz Sammer and G.B. Stott for resolving some
Linux porting issues.

Furthermore, we want to thank Tom Zimmer, Albert van der Horst and Ron
Kneusel for their small, but important contributions to fixed point
calculation and benchmarking. A big THANK YOU to Wil Baden for writing
the 4tH to ANS-Forth interface and his advice on ANS-Forth compatibility
issues.

a very special thank you to the editor of Forth Dimensions,
Marlin Ouverson, a very friendly and helpful man who was the first one
that took 4tH seriously enough to let the world know about it.

Finally, there are a number of people we owe gratitude. We have certainly
forgotten someone, but here they are: Craig P. Earls, Martin Randall and 
Dr. Udo Rabo. Thank you, folks!

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                         Copyright 1997,2009 J.L. Bezemer