Forth 2012: SYNONYM

( "<spaces>newname" "<spaces>oldname" -- )

For both strings skip leading space delimiters. Parse newname and oldname delimited by a space. Create a definition for newname with the semantics defined below. Newname may be the same as oldname; when looking up oldname, newname shall not be found.

An ambiguous conditions exists if oldname can not be found or IMMEDIATE is applied to newname.

newname interpretation:

( i * x -- j * x )
Perform the interpretation semantics of oldname.

newname compilation:

( i * x -- j * x )
Perform the compilation semantics of oldname.

See:

6.1.1710 IMMEDIATE.

Implementation:

The implementation of SYNONYM requires detailed knowledge of the host implementation, which is one reason why it should be standardized. The implementation below is imperfect and specific to VFX Forth, in particular HIDE, REVEAL and IMMEDIATE? are non-standard words.

: SYNONYM \ "newname" "oldname" --
\ Create a new definition which redirects to an existing one.
   CREATE IMMEDIATE
     HIDE ' , REVEAL
   DOES>
     @ STATE @ 0= OVER IMMEDIATE? OR
     IF EXECUTE ELSE COMPILE, THEN
;