Stephane Ducasse wrote:

>> 1)     Is Squeak actually mature for commercial 
>> applications/packages/systems?
>
>
> I know people here running a small companie selling web services based 
> on Squeak.
> So this is working. Now it depends on what is your market.


http://www.bountifulbaby.com is Squeak driven (using Comanche and the 
Seaside framework).

It's commercial, and it is growing.  It is my wife's site.

I've occasionally had issues with the technology, but that's true of 
*any* technology.  And this group (as well as the Seaside group) has 
been *very* helpful.

All-in-all, I'm very satisfied, and would definitely recommend this 
technology for implementing web sites.

My biggest issues with Squeak revolve around the following, which seems 
to be a reoccuring "deja-vu" experience with every aspect of Squeak:

*************
1. I decide I want to investigate a certain aspect, or subsystem, of 
Squeak, so I...

2. ...look for documentation.  Usually little or none is found, so I...

3. ...stare at the classes of that subsystem for awhile, looking for a 
point to beginning prying the secrets of that subsystem out.

4.  Up to this point, the subsystem I want to investigate is like a big, 
glass ball of "stuff", where I'm searching for a place to insert a pry 
bar on it's slippery glass surface, in an effort to pry out it's secrets.

5. Between staring at the classes, and studying the little bit of docs I 
sometimes am able to uncover on that particular subsystem, plus 
searching the archives of this mailing list, I finally find a little 
"toe-hold" into the subsystem that allows me to start unraveling it's 
mysteries.  

6. The "toe-hold" gets bigger as I delve deeper.

7. Eventually an "ahha!" light turns on, and I have enough of a handle 
on that subsystem to actually start using it.

8. After the "ahha!", I sit back and review the subsystem in my mind, as 
I have discovered it, and marvel at the engineering genius that created 
that subsystem.
***************

Then the next subsystem that I decide to look at starts that same 
"deja-vu" cycle all over again.

In comparison, a commercial product (like VisualWorks or VisualAge) has 
pretty decent docs.

Nevin