On 21.02.2006, at 22:48, Michael van der Gulik wrote:

> Hi.
>
> I see this class hierarchy:
>
> ...IdentityDictionary etc.
>    SystemDictionary
>       Environment
>          SmalltalkEnvironment
>
> What are they? I understand that #Smalltalk of class  
> SystemDictionary is a singleton and a global variables holder, used  
> by the compiler to add Associations pointing to global variables in  
> method dictionaries for classes.
>
> But Environment? When was it made? What were the original  
> intentions? Does it work and is it stable and safe to use?
>

It was a first experiment for namespaces in Squeak a long time ago.  
Needs to be cleaned up.

> And what is SmalltalkEnvironment used for? It appears to be an  
> uncommented empty class.
>

It's not used.

> I'm trying to create a secure, segregated Smalltalk environment in  
> my image where remotely loaded code has no references to objects  
> that I don't want it to have (aka "capabilities" ala the E language).
>

You should have a look at the Island work of Andreas for Croquet,  
there was a mail to squeak-dev some month ago describing a first  
version.

    Marcus