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ok 683281363d Initial commit: WAFER (WebAssembly Forth Engine in Rust)

Optimizing Forth 2012 compiler targeting WebAssembly with IR-based
compilation pipeline, multi-typed stack inference, subroutine threading,
and JIT/consolidation modes. Rust kernel with ~35 primitives and Forth
standard library for core/core-ext word sets.

2026-03-29 22:30:18 +02:00

2.3 KiB

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WAFER

WebAssembly Forth Engine in Rust

An optimizing Forth 2012 compiler targeting WebAssembly.

Goals

Full Forth 2012 compliance -- all word sets, 100% test suite pass rate
Optimizing compiler -- constant folding, inlining, peephole optimization, stack-to-local promotion
Multi-typed stack -- type inference uses WASM's native typed stack when possible, memory fallback for dynamic cases
Self-hosting -- minimal Rust kernel (~35 primitives), everything else written in WAFER Forth
Dual mode -- JIT for interactive development, consolidation recompilation into a single optimized WASM module

Architecture

Forth Source -> Outer Interpreter -> IR (with type inference) -> Optimization -> WASM Codegen

Subroutine threading via WASM function tables
JIT mode: each new word compiles to a separate WASM module
Consolidation mode: recompile all words into a single module with direct calls
IR-based pipeline enables optimization passes before WASM emission

Building

cargo build --workspace

Running

# Interactive REPL
cargo run -p wafer

# Run a Forth file
cargo run -p wafer -- file.fth

# Compile to optimized WASM
cargo run -p wafer -- --consolidate file.fth -o output.wasm

Testing

# All tests
cargo test --workspace

# Forth 2012 compliance dashboard
cargo test --test compliance

# Benchmarks
cargo bench --workspace

Project Structure

crates/
  core/       wafer-core: compiler, IR, optimizer, codegen
  cli/        wafer: CLI REPL and AOT compiler
  web/        wafer-web: browser bindings (planned)
forth/        Standard library written in WAFER Forth
tests/        Integration tests and Forth 2012 compliance suite

Compliance Status

Targeting 100% Forth 2012 compliance, tested with Gerry Jackson's forth2012-test-suite.

Word Set	Status
Core	Pending
Core Extensions	Pending
Block	N/A
Double-Number	Pending
Exception	Pending
Facility	Pending
File-Access	Pending
Floating-Point	Pending
Locals	Pending
Memory-Allocation	Pending
Programming-Tools	Pending
Search-Order	Pending
String	Pending
Extended-Character	Pending

License

MIT OR Apache-2.0

2.3 KiB Raw Blame History