Squeak-dev January 2008

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147 participants
192 discussions

Squeak demonstrated on the Lab With Leo
by merlyn＠stonehenge.com 20 Feb '08

20 Feb '08

Yesterday, I did two Squeak-related segments for The Lab With Leo (labwithleo.com), a technology show that is shown on cable in Canada and Australia, and on bittorrent endpoints around the world with some clever googling. I talked about the OLPC Etoys image for show #149 (each show's number is shown prominently in the opening). I did the classic "draw a car and control it with a drawn steering wheel" demo. Thanks Alan, for that. For show #137, I showed the Scratch programming environment from scratch.mit.edu. I made the default cat "follow the mouse", and didn't realize until midway through that it was more anthropomorphic than I had realized. :) Of course, when I duplicated that cat, Leo Laporte uttered "copy cat", and got me laughing as well. I mentioned that Squeak powered Scratch, but didn't go into it as deep as I did for the Etoys talk. I also emphasized the community aspect, of being able to upload my stupid project and download others. I'm happy to have shown Squeak in a very public venue. This should raise the visibility of Squeak-for-kids, since this show is highly respected and watched. The episodes should air in the mid-January timeframe, so watch for them. If someone could help me get into Croquet a bit more, I'm being asked for topics for February already. (nudge!) -- Randal L. Schwartz - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095 <merlyn(a)stonehenge.com> <URL:http://www.stonehenge.com/merlyn/> Perl/Unix/security consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc. See PerlTraining.Stonehenge.com for onsite and open-enrollment Perl training!

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programatically generating methods
by Niko Matsakis 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

What is the best way to programatically generate a CompiledMethod from a string? This is what I currently do: mthd := Compiler new compile:(String streamContents: [:stream | stream nextPutAll: 'bindingsString'; cr; tab; nextPutAll: 'Dynamically generated by bindingsString:' asSmalltalkComment; cr; tab; nextPutAll: '^ '; nextPutAll: aString surroundedBySingleQuotes; nextPut: $.; cr. ]) in:self classified:'bindings' notifying:nil ifFail:[:x | ^ x]. self class addSelector:#bindingsString withMethod: mthd generate. self class organization classify: #bindingsString under:#bindings suppressIfDefault:false. This works, actually, though I'm sure the "ifFail" block is totally wrong. However, it doesn't "feel" like the right way. For one thing, I am not sure that method of Compiler is a public API. For another, I have to repeat a lot of information such as the selector and classification. This is in relation to my last message: I am trying to generate methods that will return constant data so that it survives Monticello. (I also tried hacking around with MCClassDefinition, but that seemed like a lot of work...). The constant data is only a string, so if there is an easier way I'm all ears. thanks! Niko

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Editing class method sources in single place
by Igor Stasenko 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

I just got an idea, what if make option for browser to show all methods in one big listing, so developer can see, edit and do search e.t.c using single code window without switching to different methods. The idea, in general is to make browser look more convenient for newcomers because most of mainstream languages keeping per-class sources in single big source file. Note, i'm not saying that current source browsing/editing have to be changed or it's less convenient than mode which i proposing. It just an option, mainly focused to help newcomers to get on board. -- Best regards, Igor Stasenko AKA sig.

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[help] How can I get from an array of byte sized integers to a bitmap.
by Jerome Peace 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

[help] How can I get from an array of byte sized integers to a bitmap. Hi Yoshiki, *** >Yoshiki Ohshima yoshiki at vpri.org >Tue Jan 29 22:20:23 UTC 2008 > > >> I have an array of integers (all less than 255 ). >> I have a color form and a pallette for 255 colors. >> I have the number of columns and rows that the array >> represents. >> I want to create a bitmap to map the array onto its >> pallette. I'm not quite sure what the intervening >> steps are. > > This description is very vague, I have to say. Ah, and here I was thinking I was being precise without going into unnecessary detail. :-/ > > - Is the array of integers actually an Array object? >Yes > - The "palette" is Bitmap, yes? The pallette is an array of colors which one can give to the color form. The colorform will generate the bitmap for the colors. What I wished to do was set the bitmap for the pixels that indexed the colors. > - What are the number of columns and rows? What are inside? The columns and rows are settable by the user. Once set they are knowable. As for the inside on one end it is data about time and on the other just a colorful way of displaying the contrast amoung the data. The form is used to dramatize the results. > >> Has anyone solved this problem before? > > For example, in the OLPC image, >SugarLibrary>>imageFor:color:grayOutColor: has some obscure logic to >recolor a form. This may be different but I have a hunch that this >may be somewhat similar. Especially #hackBits: will be your weapon. >(Also, see Bitmap>>asByteArray, etc.) > >> The application I have will essentially update the >> array over time and I wish to display it visually. I >> would like to do it in a time efficient way rather >> than pixel by pixel. >> >> I've looked at the options in the image and I am not >> sure which ones are right. >> >> Ideally once the color form is set up I should be able >> to update it just by updating the bitmap from the >> array periodically. > > BitBlt can do a lot of stuff. I'm almost sure that you can find the >right operations on right data array type. I eventually realized I did not have to set the bits all once and what worked was building a pixel poker to my form. By holding on to the poker I can update the form fast enough. The appllication is scanning the display for slow spots and will generate one datum per several cycles. I collect the data as integers into an array and it was ok to store a pixel each time the data came in. This was simple and it worked (after I found a bug or two in my typing.) And this lets BitBlt continue to hide the difficulties with endianness and so forth. Still a fast way to go from array to bitmap would be useful. Its not to hard to insist the columns be a multiple of 4 so the data keeps word boundrys intact. preliminary samples at: http://bugs.squeak.org/view.php?id=6876 0006876: Why is my UI slow? Yours in curiosity and service, --Jerome Peace *** ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Morphic 3 architecture.
by Michael van der Gulik 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

On Feb 1, 2008 4:12 AM, Juan Vuletich <juan(a)jvuletich.org> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Could you give a few examples of where the arbitrary coordinate > > > systems would actually be useful? This is the part I'm confused > > about > > > - you're focussing on them a lot, but I don't see why. > > > > > > I would have thought it would be up to the application to > > provide the > > > logorithmic coordinate mappings rather than the GUI. > > > > > That how it is usually done. So that code is repeated in various > > applications, the behavior is neither consistent nor correct (see my > > approach to pixel independent rendering), there is duplicated > effort, > > many bugs appears, etc. Please do read > > > http://www.jvuletich.org/Smalltalks2007/St2007VuletichMorphic3TalkProposal.… > > . Also read > > http://www.jvuletich.org/Morphic3/TheFutureOfTheGUI_02.html > > and http://www.jvuletich.org/Morphic3/TheFutureOfTheGUI_032.html . > > I try > > to make my point there. I don't know what to say but repeat what I > > wrote > > there. If I'm not clear enough or you don't agree with me, tell me! > > > > > > > > Could you give some examples of where a non-linear coordinate system > > would be useful? I don't understand why you would want them in the GUI > > rather than the application. > Yes. Logarithmic scales in music and technical applications, pentagrams > in music, geographic in maps, polar in math. > Having that in the GUI offers the same advantages of having Morphic > instead of implementing an ad hoc idea of graphic object in each > application. > "Pentagrams" and logarithmic scales in music? What in the devil's name are you talking about? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram_%28disambiguation%29. I can never see the majority of people ever using the features you mention. They're all specialised applications and IMHO better suited to custom implementations in the applications themselves. The GUI is the wrong place for this functionality. I've had a good think about the usefulness of using non-linear coordinate system. The only realistic examples I could think of are: - Zooming in, specifically for documents or graphical applications. This is a linear transformation. - Rotating things... such as photos. Again, a linear transformation. - Silly animated window effects. > > > > > What other features does Morphic 3 have? All I'm seeing is "non-linear > > coordinate systems". > > > > Morph specification that is agnostic about pixels and resolution. This > is the key to building GUIs that look good on screen with different dpi's. > > Theorically correct antia aliasing ("the signal processing approach to > anti aliasing"). > > Better design that current Morphic, with simpler and smaller code. > These are good features, although I must say I'm most interested in the cleaner code. Is Morphic 3 retargetable? Could I run it using the Rome-based Canvas or Sig's OpenGL implementation? Are you considering how to best use graphics hardware, or are you doing most operations in software? Gulik. -- http://people.squeakfoundation.org/person/mikevdg http://gulik.pbwiki.com/

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[ANN][Squeak-dev Images] January 2008 versions
by Damien Cassou 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Hi, I've just uploaded new squeak-dev and squeak-web images based on Squeak3.9-7067 and Squeak3.10-7159. http://damien.cassou.free.fr/squeak-dev.html Changes in this version: --------------------------- - The 3.10 based images now have 32bits color depth. This prevents a bug with Compiz on Linux boxes and the logo looks nicer. - squeak-web images now contains Aida (http://www.aidaweb.si/) which is another Smalltalk Web Application Server. You can start it on port 8888 with "SwazooServer demoStart". - Seaside still runs on top of the http server Commanche. However, you can run Seaside on top of Swazoo too "SwazooSeaside startOn: 8088". - The OmniBrowser packages contains bug fixes and requested features (Ctrl+h to browse hierarchy and Ctrl+Shift+C to show category). Feel free to use mantis to submit more. Also, the repository is open to commit (source.wiresong.ca/ob) and adding features is easy; please help us making OB a great framework and the best browser. Contained packages: ------------------------ This image contains the following packages (some packages are only in the squeak-web image): Aida version 5.4 Announcements version 0.7 AST version 154 AutomaticMethodCategorizer version 0.24 AutomaticMethodCategorizerServices version 0.2 ClassSelectorSets version 1 DynamicBindings version 2.7 DynamicProtocols version 0.67 eCompletion version 0.89 eCompletion-Traits version 0.1 eCompletionOmniBrowser version 0.4 Installer version 1.0.130 KomHttpServer version 7.0.30 KomServices version 1.12 Magritte-Model version 1.0.14.300 Magritte-Morph version 1.0.14.39 Magritte-Seaside version 1.0.14.248 Magritte-Tests version 1.0.14.131 Mondrian version 0.40 OB-Enhancements version 0.60 OmniBrowser version 0.404 OmniBrowser-Full version 0.25 OmniBrowser-Morphic version 0.43 OmniBrowser-Refactory version 0.44 OmniBrowser-Standard version 0.312 OmniBrowser-SUnitIntegration version 0.9.1 OmniBrowser-TraitsIntegration version 0.32 Pier version current Pier-Blog version 1.0.14-alpha.66 Pier-Documents version 1.0.14-alpha.3 Pier-EditorEnh version 1.0.14-alpha.9 Pier-Model version 1.0.14-alpha.191 Pier-OmniBrowser version 1.0.14-alpha.31 Pier-Seaside version 1.0.14-alpha.231 Pier-Security version 1.0.14-alpha.102 Pier-Tests version 1.0.14-alpha.84 Refactoring Engine version 39 RoelTyper version 0.60 RSRSS2 version 2.8.9 Scriptaculous version 2.8.228 ScriptManager version 0.6 Seaside version 2.8.522 Seaside-Adapters-Core version pmm.2.mcz Seaside-Adapters-Swazoo version pmm.7.mcz-2 Seaside-Squeak-Adapters version pmm.3.mcz SeasideAdaptersCompatibility version pmm.1.mcz Shout version 3.15-tween.70 ShoutWorkspace version 1-tween.2 SmaCC runtime version 13 Sport version 2.31 Squeak dev packages version 0.17 Squeak dev packages beta version 0.20 Squeak web packages version 0.2 SUnit-improved version 4.0.108 SUnitGUI-improved version 4.0.48 Swazoo version 2.1 ToolBuilder integration for UI Themes version 0.51 UI Themes and Standard Widgets version 0.58 Universes version 41 Universes OmniBrowser version 0.35 YAXO version 9 Updating the image: ------------------------- You are not obliged to download a new image if you don't want. You can always update your image. To upgrade your already existing squeak-dev image: 1) World menu->open...->Package Universe Browser 2) Update list from network 3) Select all upgrades 4) Install selection 5) Execute: 'DEVImageCreator default install' (all windows will be closed) Prepared packages: -------------------------- There are a lot of packages prepared for you in this image. They are not loaded in the image, but they can be easily. - Open Package Universe Browser (world->open...->Package Universe Browser). - Click on "Update list from network" - Wait a few seconds - Select your packages - Install them -- Damien Cassou

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Dynamic Protocols in the Dev-images
by Damien Cassou 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hi, as the developer of both the Dynamic Protocols and the dev-images, I have included the firsts into the latter some times ago. I found them quite useful at that time. However, they slow down a lot the UI (which is already very slow). So, my question is: Who wants me to continue including the dynamic protocols in the dev-images? Is there anyone using them? Bye -- Damien Cassou

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upgrade of Debian packages
by Matej Kosik 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Friends, I have made internal updates (3.9.8-2 --> 3.9.8-3) of Debian packages: * squeak * squeak-vm * squeak-plugin The changes ensure that if you now install `squeak-plugin', it will work. Why it did not work: In the original source code, the `squeak plugin' ignores the actual value of `--prefix=...' option given at configuration time. It looks it in /usr/local/share/squeak If it heeded to the --prefix given to the ./configure script, it would tried to look it up in /usr/share/squeak The change of the source code is not a proper fix. It is only temporary hack until thins are fixed in upstream. The `squeak plugin' source code must not ignore parameters passed on to the ./configure script. Am I right? Ian? If it is not fixed in the upstream version, then I would have to apply the same hack as I move to the newer upstream versions. That move would be smoother if I did not have to do it. Regards, - -- Matej Kosik -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFHntVRL+CaXfJI/hgRAiUGAJ9jiPsiAt/Wwrh8bEmKnnUZ/TqoWQCfW/u7 DPQZ2cn41h8GV6LmNKfxDu0= =GWFR -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Open meeting regarding the Squeak Release Team
by Matthew Fulmer 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Edgar J. De Cleene, Keith Hodges, and I are going to hold a meeting on Skype this Saturday at 1600 UTC. We want to discuss what the next release process should look like, and would welcome input, especially if you are willing to help or have a tool that could help us with the release effort. On the agenda is: The main agenda items are: - How to maintain communication within the release team, and with the wider community - Keith's Level Playing Field - Pavel's Kernel Image / Minimal Morphic - What to do about the update stream and the MC packages that 3.9 and 3.10 releases produced Secondary agenda items are: - Monticello 2 status - DeltaStreams status We most likely will not discuss specific changes/bug fixes that would be managed by the release team. The meeting is more an attempt to get some coherency into the release process, since there are now a few different directions the release team could go in. We welcome your input. I will record and post the meeting discussions -- Matthew Fulmer -- http://mtfulmer.wordpress.com/ Help improve Squeak Documentation: http://wiki.squeak.org/squeak/808

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Canvas architecture
by Michael van der Gulik 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

On Feb 1, 2008 7:21 AM, Igor Stasenko <siguctua(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On 31/01/2008, Bert Freudenberg <bert(a)freudenbergs.de> wrote: > > > I am beginning to understand your point :) Yes, having that power in > > the base system would be cool. I still think it can be implemented on > > latest-gen OpenGL hardware (which can do the non-linear transform and > > adaptively tesselate curves to pixel resolution) but that then would > > be just an optimization. > > > > What i'm against, is to bind rendering subsystem to specific hardware. > There should be a layer, which should offer a rendering services to > application, and number of layers to deliver graphics to device(s). > In perfect, it should be able to render itself using any device: > screen or printer or remote (networked) canvas. > There also can be a different options in what a rendering media is: > it's wrong to assume that rendering surface is planar (it can be a 3D > holo-projector, for instance). > What is hard, is to design such system to be fast and optimal and > still be generic enough to be able to render anywhere. > For the holo-projector example, you need "architecture". For example, consider this ASCII-art layered architecture for a GUI: Application | ToolBuilder / \ 2-D Widgets 3-D Widgets | | Canvas OpenGL or something | BitBlt, Cairo, etc. Of course, there's a lot more to it. I believe (and I'm putting words in Juan's mouth here) that Morphic 3 is primarily a 2-D GUI. In terms of hardware support, the Canvas class (currently used by Morphic for drawing everything) needs to be rethought. I've got a preliminary brain dump here: http://gulik.pbwiki.com/Canvas. Morphic 2 (i.e. in Squeak now) isn't very smart about how it draws stuff; it's very slow. BitBlt is capable of a lot more. Also, the underlying layers of architecture (BitBlt particularly) aren't smart about rendering. The X Windows implementation of Squeak for example (AFAIK) only uses a single bit-mapped "window". The X Window system can do a lot more, such as vectored graphics and multiple windows. I suspect that the VNC implementation doesn't cache bitmaps on the client, although this is pure speculation. I would change Canvas by: - Allowing a canvas to have movable sub-canvases. These would map 1:1 to "windows" (i.e. drawable areas without borders, title bars) in the X window system, or cached bitmaps in VNC, or display lists / textures in OpenGL. These could be moved around the screen easily by only changing the location of the sub-canvas. - Canvases could be implemented as bitmaps or vectored graphics/display lists; the application doesn't need to know what implementation is actually used. - Introduce a "needsRedraw" system of some sort. A Canvas implementation may or may not cache its contents (as a bitmap or vectored graphics/display list). Various implementations may discard the cached contents at times, or perhaps not even cache content. - Use micrometers rather than pixels as the unit of measurement and provide a "pixelPitch" method to return the size of a pixel. For example, my screen has a pixel pitch of 282 micrometers. A 600dpi printer would have a pixel pitch of around 42 micrometers. You could use a SmallInteger to store micrometer values. - Introduce, somehow, an event system closely coupled to a Canvas (because some events have coordinates relative to a canvas). - Somehow support remotely cached bitmaps. I haven't thought about this yet. Gulik. -- http://people.squeakfoundation.org/person/mikevdg http://gulik.pbwiki.com/

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