Folks -
I have just stored a beta version of Squeak 2.3 out on the UIUC server: ftp://st.cs.uiuc.edu/Smalltalk/Squeak/
A few things to note: This image will want a new VM, although it should run on an old VM if you don't use any of the new pluggable primitives (it may crash if you try).
The Mac VM supplied is FAT (will run on 68K machines), but pluggable primitives will fail on the 68K (they should run in Squeak, though). We will complete the 68K section in due time.
The image and changes are there as of this msg. The Mac VM (and a compact archive for Macs) should appear in a few hours.
There are some awesome new capabilities in this version of Squeak. I'll send out a complete message in the next day or two, and perhaps Andreas will as well (he is responsible for Balloon, the awesome new graphics engine, as well as the considerable interface support surrounding it).
[Andreas: Can you send out a brief message pointing folks at some flash files to try, and any other things you might want to suggest for people to try (like the TrueType access or the lightning-fast FFT). Also, if you have a VM for 2.3, where can people find it? Thanks in advance]
Enjoy - Dan
Dan Ingalls wrote:
Folks -
I have just stored a beta version of Squeak 2.3 out on the UIUC server: ftp://st.cs.uiuc.edu/Smalltalk/Squeak/
A few things to note: This image will want a new VM, although it should run on an old VM if you don't use any of the new pluggable primitives (it may crash if you try).
Well, I don't seem to be getting any results using the existing Squeak22.exe VM (Oct 16) for Win32 with the Squeak2.3beta.image -- or rather I _am_ getting results, just nothing useful. I get a blank Squeak desktop window and the mouse pointer is the Squeak pointer, but I cannot bring up any menus or get anything else to come up. However, it is not "hung" in any normal sense, nor does it crash. Anything I might try other than just punting?
-- Dwight
On Wed 25 Nov, Dan Ingalls wrote:
Folks -
I have just stored a beta version of Squeak 2.3 out on the UIUC server: ftp://st.cs.uiuc.edu/Smalltalk/Squeak/
OK - first bug for Acorn:- I sent johnM a patch to remove the LEBB startup sequence, since I've withdrawn it from use. Isn't in there, so my new VM don't work.
Otherwise, same as Dwight said. registering the file stream gets its knickers twisted and goes into a screaming powerdive to oblivion, pilot shrieking for mother, smoking crater, fire blazing across the desolate moors as puzzled sheep look on. Rain comes, puts out the flames, silence returns. The mist rolls in....
Tim Rowledge wrote:
On Wed 25 Nov, Dan Ingalls wrote:
Folks -
I have just stored a beta version of Squeak 2.3 out on the UIUC server: ftp://st.cs.uiuc.edu/Smalltalk/Squeak/
OK - first bug for Acorn:- I sent johnM a patch to remove the LEBB startup sequence, since I've withdrawn it from use. Isn't in there, so my new VM don't work.
Otherwise, same as Dwight said. registering the file stream gets its knickers twisted and goes into a screaming powerdive to oblivion, pilot shrieking for mother, smoking crater, fire blazing across the desolate moors as puzzled sheep look on. Rain comes, puts out the flames, silence returns. The mist rolls in....
Such an evocative image. I can almost hear Churchill in voice-over saying, "Yes, I believe I will have another brandy." :-)
-- Dwight
Grabbing the interp.c & misc prims .c from Ian's site allowed me to make a VM that runs ok with the new image. Adding a temporary startup.st to the command line allowed me to work around the missing deletion of the little endian blt stuff. Programming blind is such fun...but at least it _is_ possible with this system. Now just how do I find the runtime address of a function known only by its name - under RiscOS :-) Anyone? Bueller?
tim
I got Squeak 2.2 loaded on my windows 95 machine. It comes up with the multi-windows, etc.
My background is assemble language. write code, compilie, run
I havn't a clue on how to start. i.e. how do I use squeak to to get on the web as a browser ? how do I do anything ? the readme doesn't address simple questions. :-) Help ! can anyone point me in the right direction ?
Thanks, Stan microres@crl.com
I havn't a clue on how to start. i.e. how do I use squeak to to get on the web as a browser ? how do I do anything ? the readme doesn't address simple questions.
Well, as a matter of fact, it does ;-) Go looking into the "Getting started" window which is right above the "Welcome to..." window. Then, [now quoting from the window] "just click on..." the highlighted link to
http://minnow.cc.gatech.edu/SqueakDoc.1
say "yes" if you're asked to open a web browser (answering your first question ;) and read everything else online.
Andreas
Hi Stan,
Go to the getting started tutorial at: http://kaka.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~wolfgang/cosc205/smalltalk1.html and then: http://www.phaidros.com/DIGITALIS/englisch/sqk/sqk00002.htm which should get you well on the way. Squeak is a rapidly changing and evolving system, so you can expect to have to wade in and figure some things out, but be sure to ask questions too.
Also make sure you check out the Squeak Swiki: http://minnow.cc.gatech.edu/squeak.1 and the Squeak Directory: http://directory.mozilla.org/Computers/Programming_Languages/Squeak/
-- Dwight
Stanley Wilson wrote:
I got Squeak 2.2 loaded on my windows 95 machine. It comes up with the multi-windows, etc.
My background is assemble language. write code, compilie, run
"And now for something completely different" -- Monty Python's Flying Circus
I havn't a clue on how to start. i.e. how do I use squeak to to get on the web as a browser ? how do I do anything ? the readme doesn't address simple questions. :-) Help ! can anyone point me in the right direction ?
Thanks, Stan microres@crl.com
Folks,
The Win32 version of 2.3 beta is there at
ftp://ftp.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/pub/Smalltalk/free/squeak/win32/Squeak.zip http://isgwww.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/~raab/squeak/Squeak.zip
[VM recompilers: The sources have not been updated yet - I'm still working on networking stuff].
Have fun, Andreas
Folks,
According to Dan's request here are couple of things that are new with 2.3 beta: * Interface changes We have now new Morphic menus (I just love them) and a preferences panel with help messages for most entries. * Sound stuff MIDI input is available from class MIDISynth. * Numerical stuff The new coercion scheme is in 2.3beta, we have array math and a brand new wavelet transform hanging around (see class FWT). * Weak classes / finalization support is now part of the standard image [Note: Some people were already running into this - you really need a new VM for this stuff to work properly] * Pluggable primitives Those of you not having been to OOPSLA, PPs are a way of extending the virtual machine without actually modifying it. PPs are pluggable in such that they're called by name, not by number and that they can reside in an external library (e.g., a DSO on Unix, a DLL on Windows, and whatever it's called on other systems). An example is FFT>>pluginTest which should be about a factor 60-100 faster than the regular (interpreted) FFT. If it isn't, then it's because your VM does not support PPs, but the FFT will still run. Implementors: Have a look at class InterpreterPlugin and it's subclasses to see how this works (yes - I ought to write a bit of documentation about this stuff ;-) * Balloon This is a vector graphics engine that will hopefully bring a new quality of graphics into Squeak. For the moment it's still in preliminary state but for those of you who want to get an impression, here are two things to try: - Playing with TrueType fonts (Yeah!!) Just open one of those guys from the file list and enjoy ;-) [Note that TTFs are not yet used outside this example] - Playing with MacroMedia Flash files Flash is a vector graphics package designed for vector graphics content delivery over the internet. Many sites use this to enhance their web pages and it's a lot of fun to play with. If you have access to any .SWF files just open them from the file list. [Note: The integration into Scamper didn't make it for the beta. It will be in the final 2.3 and I'll post a couple of links for you to play with].
I think that are the biggest changes in 2.3 beta [Dan - did I miss anything important?!]
Cheers, Andreas
Andreas Raab wrote:
Folks,
- Balloon This is a vector graphics engine that will hopefully bring a new quality of graphics into Squeak. For the moment it's still in preliminary state but for those of you who want to get an impression,
Playing Flash files is way coool! I'm impressed. An excellent example of assimilating! THANKS!
here are two things to try:
- Playing with TrueType fonts (Yeah!!) Just open one of those guys from the file list and enjoy ;-) [Note that TTFs are not yet used outside this example]
- Playing with MacroMedia Flash files Flash is a vector graphics package designed for vector graphics content delivery over the internet. Many sites use this to enhance their web pages and it's a lot of fun to play with. If you have access to any .SWF files just open them from the file list.
Many thanks, Andreas, for highlighting the new features of Squeak 2.3 that are available for test in the beta image. I was busy with Charlie's birthday and didn't want to spend the whole evening at the computer.
A couple of other things occur to me worthy of mention, as folks may want to try them out in beta and let us know of anything that seems amiss.
- Interface changes
We have now new Morphic menus (I just love them) and a preferences panel with help messages for most entries.
Note especially the preference for inboard scrollbars. I spent a while getting these to work right, as it really makes a difference on PDAs where there is no mouseOver tracking.
Also note that Morphic windows now have the ability to adjust pane boundaries (and I fixed a couple of bugs there, too).
And the multiple selections finally work in morphic (cf changelist)
Andreas was too modest to mention that his file contents browser has been included. The normal way to get at it is through the fileList menu options. It is wonderful to have the diff feature, and I extended its availability to the changeList and versions browsers. Also note that the 'compare to clipboard' command (in the "special" menu of the text editor) has been changed so that it spawns a window with the detailed diffs. It can be really useful.
- Numerical stuff
The new coercion scheme is in 2.3beta, we have array math and a brand new wavelet transform hanging around (see class FWT).
The new coercion scheme has been extended to collections and points. This was inspired by Travis Griggs's collection arithmetic package. We probably have some more work to do to fully include, eg, the FloatArrays.
Also note that the 2.3 VM does Float/Integer coericons internally which makes this most common case uncommonly fast.
Finally, although it's not exactly numerical, the VM now includes a string search primitive that dramatically changes the performance of most string searches. The primitive is parameterized for casesensitivity, and has been incoporated into most of the other code such as beginsWith:, match: and the like.
- Weak classes / finalization support is now part of the standard image
[Note: Some people were already running into this - you really need a new VM for this stuff to work properly]
Oops. I forgot to mention that.
- Balloon Flash is a vector graphics package designed for vector graphics content delivery over the internet. Many sites use this to enhance their web pages and it's a lot of fun to play with. If you have access to any .SWF files just open them from the file list.
Note that balloon objects built from SWF files can be scaled and rotated to any angle without loss of detail. Use cmd-click to get a halo for the flash player, and then choose make controls from its menu. This will allow you to choose fastest, medium or nicest, the Sears good/better/best choice applied to anti-aliased rendering. Also bear in mind that speed and quality will depend on your color depth setting. Things will be nicest if you use 16- or 32-bit color (natch).
Finally, there is a significant new system (called Squeak Pages) designed to allow morphic worlds to be cached in Squeak, but resident on Web Pages. This is largely the work of John Maloney and Ted Kaehler. We will write more specifically about this when we have had a chance to shake it down a bit ourselves.
Enjoy - Dan
- Playing with MacroMedia Flash files Flash is a vector graphics package designed for vector graphics content delivery over the internet. Many sites use this to enhance their web pages and it's a lot of fun to play with. If you have access to any .SWF files just open them from the file list. [Note: The integration into Scamper didn't make it for the beta. It will be in the final 2.3 and I'll post a couple of links for you to play with].
For those of us who have just learned of Flash, where's a good place to grab .SWF files?
Thanks! Mark
-------------------------- Mark Guzdial : Georgia Tech : College of Computing : Atlanta, GA 30332-0280 (404) 894-5618 : Fax (404) 894-0673 : guzdial@cc.gatech.edu http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Faculty/Mark.Guzdial.html
Mark Guzdial wrote:
- Playing with MacroMedia Flash files Flash is a vector graphics package designed for vector graphics content delivery over the internet. Many sites use this to enhance their web pages and it's a lot of fun to play with. If you have access to any .SWF files just open them from the file list. [Note: The integration into Scamper didn't make it for the beta. It will be in the final 2.3 and I'll post a couple of links for you to play with].
For those of us who have just learned of Flash, where's a good place to grab .SWF files?
If you're running Mac or Windows you can go to http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/index_flash_movie.html and download the trial beta which has example files.-Laurence
Thanks! Mark
Mark Guzdial : Georgia Tech : College of Computing : Atlanta, GA 30332-0280 (404) 894-5618 : Fax (404) 894-0673 : guzdial@cc.gatech.edu http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Faculty/Mark.Guzdial.html
On Thu 26 Nov, Andreas Raab wrote:
- Pluggable primitives Those of you not having been to OOPSLA, PPs are a way of extending the virtual machine without actually modifying it. PPs are pluggable in such that they're called by name, not by number and that they can reside
[SNIP]
Implementors: Have a look at class InterpreterPlugin and it's
subclasses
to see how this works (yes - I ought to write a bit of documentation about this stuff ;-)
There's already a page on the central Swiki awaiting your input :-) Look for 'named primitives' on the Virtual Machine Hacking page.
Dear Friends,
This past week I got my January issue of Dr. Dobbs (yes, one of the few hard core mags still around that doesn't have it's head up some language's behind), and, as usual, I sat down to read Michael Swaine's column, and what do you know... he talks about Squeak! About 1/2 the column!
The article seemed to have a fair idea about Squeak, although he seemed to have no idea about the current state of Smalltalk. I was a bit surprised to get the impression that he didn't really know Smalltalk too much, but I guess no one can know everything.
As to the current state of Smalltalk, he talks about how Squeak will be hard to make any inroads against C++ or Java. As if Squeak was somehow synonymous with Smalltalk... I'd go as far as to say the tone of the article was that Smalltalk has somehow become Squeak.
I find that very unfortunate. As we all know, Squeak is to Smalltalk what Linux is to Unix, and no more has all of Unix become Linux than all of Smalltalk become Squeak. Which is not to say I have a problem with either Squeak or Linux. It's just that, oh, I don't know, It's just that I find it unfortunate that Squeak has, in this one case, as narrow as it may be, somehow occluded the demonstrable advances and successes of Smalltalk over the decades.
And So It Goes Sames
============================================================================ Samuel S. Shuster Continuum Methods & Frameworks, Inc. Go Smalltalk!
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