Debugging a FOURTH program 1992 era

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around debugging a FOURTH program used in a TCS 6366 controller for pH control in a fermentation process. Participants are exploring issues related to programming the controller, the logic of the FOURTH program, and the associated parameter files. The context includes technical challenges faced in a biotechnological application.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the need to program a backup TCS 6366 controller due to erratic outputs from the current one, indicating a potential issue with the FOURTH program or its parameter file.
  • Another participant notes the difficulty of debugging the FOURTH program, referring to it as a "write-only language" and expressing confusion over non-standard commands used in the program.
  • There is mention of a lack of documentation for the program, with participants relying on the available files, F1U6.TXT and F1U6parm, to understand the program's functionality.
  • A participant explains the intended function of the program, which is to maintain a pH level of 7.10 by controlling the addition of Sodium Hydroxide when the pH drops, while also noting a subroutine for acid addition that is not utilized in their specific fermentation process.
  • Concerns are raised about the program's current state, with one participant suggesting it may require an external library or additional files to function properly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the functionality of the FOURTH program and the necessity of additional documentation or libraries. There is no consensus on whether the program can run as it is currently written.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations due to the absence of documentation and the reliance on non-standard commands within the FOURTH program, which complicates debugging efforts.

jlorda
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I work at a Bio tech company in Ma. We manufacture a Feline Leukemia Virus vaccine. We currently use a TCS 6366 controller(1987 vintage) to control our pH in our 500 L fermenter. The 6366 controller has been giving us some erratic out puts. We would like to program another 6366 as a backup so we can service the failing controller. In order to program the controller we have to use a 486 PC running win 3.1 using an RS232 interface to the front of the controller.
We have not had any success programing a backup controller. The program that gets uploaded to the controller is written in programming language FOURTH. Those of us working on this problem believe that there is a problem with the FOURTH program or the parameter file that loads with it. We have loaded other programs on to the controller with success (agitation and temp control). I will be attaching the two fourth files with this post. If anyone has any suggestions on the program logic or parameter files your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Thank You in advance...
 
That's rough. The files are mercifully short, but Fort is famous as a write-only language -- very hard to debug, especially when written in a terse style like you have here.

But I can't even start figuring out what it does, because it uses WORDs I'm not familiar with, not standard Forth: GT, GP, BN, ST, etc. Where are these defined? They're not in F1U6.TXT.
 
This is all we have to go on. We have been trying to get our hands on the documentation that came with this program. But that was probably gone long ago. F1U6.TXT is just the program. The dictionary file is F1U6parm this gives the variables for the program from what I can tell. This is all we have to go on. Thanks for the reply.
 
The program is supposed to keep the pH in the fermentor at pH 7.10 the set point(local set point). As the Bacteria grow the pH begins to drop below the set point the controller will open a valve to a pressure vessel that contains Sodium Hydroxide 5N for a given periop of time. There is also a subrutine for an acid addition but we never need to add the acid for this particular fermentation of recombinant ecoli.
 
jlorda said:
This is all we have to go on. We have been trying to get our hands on the documentation that came with this program. But that was probably gone long ago. F1U6.TXT is just the program. The dictionary file is F1U6parm this gives the variables for the program from what I can tell. This is all we have to go on. Thanks for the reply.

I didn't expect that there was documentation. What I meant was that I don't even think this program will run at all in its present state. It seems to need an external library or a third file. (Anyone with more Forth experience is welcome to post to the contrary!)