Minimal images [was: Re: [ANN] Spaghetti Tracer (0.4)]

PhiHo Hoang phiho.hoang at rogers.com
Mon Nov 4 15:14:49 UTC 2002


Dan,

> This is an interesting question.
> I've been thinking about it recently while contemplating
> the ST72 and ST76 kernels (which are both under 100k of source).

    This is interesting, are you thinking of ST2K2 ;-)

> I can imagine a source-only "image" that could be executed
> by a VM that did dynamic translation (into bytecodes or beyond).
> This relieves the need for a compiler in the image
> (other than something that just adds new source
> to a method dictionary (or simple list!)).
>
> I think the essence that is required of a minimal
> "complete" image is just enough to make the source code meaningful,
> not necessarily efficient.

    This is debatable, and need to be proved by hard facts.

    If someone is willing to throw in a CompilerPlugin,
    I volunteer to come back with some hard numbers. ;-)

    And please don't forget that the source code
    is only for bootstrapping.

    Cheers,

    PhiHo.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Ingalls" <Dan at SqueakLand.org>
To: <squeak-dev at lists.squeakfoundation.org>
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 10:05 AM
Subject: Minimal images [was: Re: [ANN] Spaghetti Tracer (0.4)]


> >--- PhiHo Hoang <phiho.hoang at rogers.com> wrote:
> >> Thanks, Daniel. I went through all the examples now
> >> without a problem.
> >>
> >> I looked at the samples, and tried to answer my
> >> question:
> >>
> >>     'If I want to have an image with just two
> >> objects Metaclass and
> >> ProtoObject,
> >>     what other objects are also needed to build a
> > > self sufficient community'
>
> Benoit St-Jean <bstjean at yahoo.com> replied...
>
> >I'd say Compiler & friends would help...  :)
>
> This is an interesting question.  I've been thinking about it recently
while contemplating the ST72 and ST76 kernels (which are both under 100k of
source).
>
> I can imagine a source-only "image" that could be executed by a VM that
did dynamic translation (into bytecodes or beyond).  This relieves the need
for a compiler in the image (other than something that just adds new source
to a method dictionary (or simple list!)).  I think the essence that is
required of a minimal "complete" image is just enough to make the source
code meaningful, not necessarily efficient.
>
> - Dan
>




More information about the Squeak-dev mailing list