Hi
First off I admit to having never used Squeak or any Smalltalk in anger (or even in a very slight temper). I have looked over Squeaks shoulder several times though in the last couple of years and it always fascinates me. I have a play, think, not sure how to actually build anything in this and scuttle off back to python land or java land or whatever. I think, this time I might get further.
Ok, I have an application (this is hobby time not work time) in Python that is a software defined radio, running in two parts over a network. The server and the client part communicate using Pyro (a distributed object protocol for Python). The server is mostly 'C' with Python wrappers. For this experiment I intend leaving the server much as it is except I have to connect to it from Squeak. I guess I would have to use plain sockets and devise a text based message protocol to get these two parts to communicate.
First question - is there any better way (meaning higher level) way to do this communication, perhaps using Squeak on both sides. I could arrange for the server side Squeak to talk to the 'C' processes through named pipes if this makes things easier. The server is on Linux (Suse 9.3) by the way. The client in on Windows XP.
Second question - well actually quite a few questions. I have been playing with Morphic as the major part of what I would need to build is the UI. Having found the tutorials not particularly helpful in explaining how to build a UI I have discovered/questions on the following, which is no doubt only the tip of the iceberg.
1. I find the Supplies and Widgets flaps a bit odd. The widgets seem to be what I would best describe as applets and the supplies what I would best describe as widgets. At first I though, where is everything, expecting to see all the usual suspects for building a UI but finding (to me) a rather odd and small selection of bits. I then found that the 'new morph' menu item gives a huge selection of parts and buried in there I have found quite a number of the more standard parts although how to use them is another question. I didn't find things like check box, radio button and box but I assume they are somewhere. At the risk of being shot down I think the flaps and their contents, with the possible exception of the tools detract from the overall look of the default distribution. Some better crafted graphics and a better selection would make all the difference.
2. Ok, so I can drop parts onto the main window and play with them. It took me a while to work out there is for example an 'Alignment Morph', which I could then turn into a window and add components to it. There also seem to be some layout managers/sizers (not sure what Squeak calls them). I guess if I work at this long enough I would figure out how to combine alignment panels and layouts to get a finished UI with the correct layout and resize behaviour. Is this the way people do it, just work it out for themselves or did I miss a whole load of info somewhere.
3. Having got my layout, what do I do with it? I am used to GUI builders that drop code. I found several menu items, but none seemed to help.
4. While playing I got a lot of 'Message Not Understood' errors. Bearing in mind I'm not writing any code yet why do I get these. Mostly they can be Abandoned but occasionally I get a whole string of them that brings the thing to its knees and I have to restart. Some morphs I have tried also throw errors immediately and every time I mouse over them. How do you get rid of these as you can't bring up the halo.
Sorry for a lot of questions but I wanted to get as far as I could in a reasonable amount of time and then fire enough off to get me to next base. If you only know the answer to one question, please don't hold off as any info will help me move forward.
Thanks
Bob
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