Hello -- I want to do some experimentation with alternative syntax for
Smalltalk. My main motivation is trying to unify the block and method
syntax. I see a block as an in-lined method with an empty selector. This
syntax helps to visualize that an object is basically a closure over its
instance variables.

To make this work, I would also need to make Blocks understand the message
#: (which would be equivalent to the current #value:).

Some examples will be more clear than I can describe.

Currently:

succ := [:n | n + 1].
(succ value: 3) = 4.

addTo := [:a :b | a + b].
(addTo value: 3 value: 4) = 7.

Proposal:

[succ: n | n + 1].
(succ :3) = 4.

[add: a to: b | a + b].
(add :3 to : 4) = 7.

Class declaration syntax:

[Point << Object |
| x y |

[hash | ^x hash + y hash].

[extent: aPoint | ^Rectangle origin: self extent: aPoint].

[distance: aPoint |
| dx dy |
dx := aPoint x - x.
dy := aPoint y - y.
^((dx * dx) + (dy * dy)) sqrt].
].

I am reaching out for ideas or direction on how to do such experiments. I
would rather avoid touching the current  compiler. Maybe defining this
alternative syntax that compiles to regular Smalltalk. Nowadays PEG parsers
are very trendy. Is there one available for any of the Squeak/Smalltalk
flavours?

Thanks,
Francisco
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