Further information
MPE courses
MicroProcessor Engineering runs the following standard courses, which
can be held at MPE or at your own site:
- Architectual Introduction to Forth (AIF):
A three-day course for those with little or no experience
of Forth, but with some programming experience. The AIF course
provides an introduction to the architecture of a Forth system.
It shows, by teaching and by practical example how software
can be coded, tested and debugged quickly and efficiently,
using Forth's interactive abilities.
- Embedded Software for Hardware Engineers (ESHE):
A three-day course for hardware and firmware engineers
needing to construct real-time embedded applications using
Forth cross-compilers. Includes multitasking and writing
interrupt handlers.
Custom courses are available
- Quick Start Course (QSC):
A very hands-on tailored course on your site using your own
hardware, and includes installation of a target Forth on
your hardware, approaches to writing device drivers,
designing a framework for your application
and whatever else you need. The course is usually three days
long.
- Other custom courses we provide are for Open Boot and Open
Firmware. These are derived from the AIF course above.
MPE consultancy
MPE is available for consultancy covering all aspects of
Forth and real-time software and hardware development. Apart
from our Forth experience, MPE staff have considerable
knowledge of embedded hardware design, Windows, Linux and DOS.
Our software orbits the earth, will land on comets, runs
construction companies, laundries, vending machines, payment
terminals, access control systems, theatre and concert
rigging, anaesthetic ventilators, art installations, trains,
newspaper presses and bomb disposal machines.
We have done projects ranging from a few days to major
international projects covering several years, continents
and many countries. We can operate to fixed price and fixed
term contracts. Projects by MPE cover topics such as:
- Custom compiler developments, including language extensions
such as SNMP, and new CPU implementations,
- Custom hardware design and compiler installations,
- Portable binary system for smart card payment systems,
- Machinery controllers,
- Connecting instrumentation to web sites,
- Virtual memory systems,
- Code porting to new hardware or operating systems.
We also have a range of outside consultants covering but not
limited to:
- Communications protocols
- Windows device drivers
- All aspects of Linux
- Safety critical systems
- Project management (including international)
Recommended reading
A current list of books on Forth may be found at:
http://www.mpeforth.com/books.htm
For an introduction to Forth, and all available in PDF or
HTML:
- "Programming Forth" by Stephen Pelc. About modern Forth systems.
- "Starting Forth" by Leo Brodie. A classic, but very dated.
- "Thinking Forth" by Leo Brodie. A classic.
For more experienced Forth programmers:
- "Object Oriented Forth" by Dick Pountain
- "Scientific Forth" by Julian Noble
Other miscellaneous Forth books:
- "Forth Applications in Engineering and Industry" by John Matthews
- "Stack Machines: The New Wave" by Philip J Koopman Jr
All of these books can be supplied by MPE.