You need gcc version 2.0 or later to compile gforth. First, type ./configure configure has the following useful parameters: --prefix=PREFIX install architecture-independent files in PREFIX [default: /usr/local] --exec-prefix=PREFIX install architecture-dependent files in PREFIX [default: same as prefix] --enable-force-reg Use explicit register declarations if they appear in the machine.h file. This can cause a good speedup, but also incorrect code with some gcc versions on some processors (default disabled). --enable-direct-threaded Force direct threading. This may not work on some machines and may cause slowdown on others. (default processor-dependent) --enable-indirect-threaded Force indirect threading. This can cause a slowdown on some machines. (default processor-dependent) --with-debug specifies option -g to compile with debug info (default) --without-debug omits the -g switch and creates smaller images on machines where strip has problems with gcc style debugging informations. --help: tells you about other parameters. If you don't like the defaults for the installation directories, you should override them already during configure. E.g., if you want to install in the /gnu hierarchy instead of in the default /usr/local hirarchy, say ./configure --prefix=/gnu After, configuration, type make If your make has trouble with the Makefile, "make gforth" might work. If your installed gcc isn't called "gcc" (e.g., called "gcc-2.6.1"), type make GCC= instead. Now you can check whether your shiny new Forth system works. Say make test To make the documentation, type make -k gforth.info gforth.ps html If everything is allright, you may want to install gforth. Type make install You have to make an entry in the info directory file manually. Also, you have to install gforth.ps and html yourself.