Hi folks,
I think that now can be the time for attacking the namespace thread from the opposite direction :)
Let's assume now and here that syntax and semantics of the given proposal is adopted. Then we still face the implication of possible name clash (and of course, as always, lack of not-bytecoded documentation).
Somewhere in the namespaces thread it was mentioned that root (?) names are maintained on a Wiki (in VW? anyone any hyperlink?). Now, because I very much like exposing the symbolic (all global names and their components' names in namespace) interface of Squeak to search engines, I suggest we make structured Swiki pages for Squeak namespaces, so that the next Squeak convert is able to find such manifests (from google, krugle, etc) and click the presented hyperlinks to arrive at the respective project (download) page.
I hereby volunteer to create and maintain Squeak's namespaces Swiki pages. I do so because at around 3.6 I rediscovered Squeak and was really disappointed when I didn't find any class names and system category names organized and served for www consumption.
I do not anticipate much work for me, because nothing much namespaceable exists today in Squeak. And if system categories where decided to be part of the then official namespaces, then a very small number of statements in a workspace will just kick them in.
Since it cannot be expected that everybody rewrites her/his source code just because it can now reference namespaces, the amount of organizational work can be kept almost invisible small during an initial phase, IMO. I cannot and do not intend to deal with tool support, perhaps someone else can join in and add namespaces support to tools (to some minimal extend).
After some time and some use in practice, Squeak's namespaces Swiki pages can be reviewed by the community and further directions can be addressed (if such can be found by that time and namespaces then still are relevant).
BTW: I hereby promise to not touch the #:: naming and the #:: implementation of the then official Squeak namespaces solution; will do so only locally in my own image ;-)
/Klaus
You can see the VisualWorks namespace list at http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/CincomSmalltalkWiki/VW+NameSpace+Reservations
Thank you Ralph, that is a huge list and I can only express my hope that the Squeak community values it as work to be done on Squeak namespaces!
/Klaus
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:26:31 +0100, Ralph wrote:
You can see the VisualWorks namespace list at http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/CincomSmalltalkWiki/VW+NameSpace+Reservations
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