Strongtalk
Encyclopedia
Strongtalk is a Smalltalk
environment with optional static typing support. Strongtalk can make some compile time
checks, and offer "stronger" type-safety guarantees; this is the source of its name. It is non-commercial, though it was originally a commercial project developed by a small start-up company called Animorphic.
. This version was based on adding type-checking to the ParcPlace Systems implementation of Smalltalk; an implementation that started from scratch would gain a better typing system.
He became interested in the improvements that the Self team had achieved, and envisioned the same techniques used to improve Smalltalk. Urs Hölzle
, who worked on the powerful Self compiler, spoke with Griswold about implementing the same "type feedback" in a Smalltalk compiler. Griswold, Hölzle, Lars Bak
and others formed a small company (LongView Technologies, doing business as Animorphic Systems) to re-implement Strongtalk. Work began in 1994 and they completed an implementation in 1996. However, the company was bought by Sun
in 1997, and the team got focused on Java
, releasing the HotSpot
virtual machine, and work on Strongtalk stalled.
Sun Microsystems
released the 1997 re-implementation of Strongtalk as open source software under the "revised" BSD license
, including the Strongtalk system image
(in 2002) and the virtual machine
(in 2006.) Strongtalk is touted as the fastest implementation of Smalltalk
. Strongtalk is currently available for Windows XP
(other port
s are in the works) and includes a basic development environment.
Smalltalk
Smalltalk is an object-oriented, dynamically typed, reflective programming language. Smalltalk was created as the language to underpin the "new world" of computing exemplified by "human–computer symbiosis." It was designed and created in part for educational use, more so for constructionist...
environment with optional static typing support. Strongtalk can make some compile time
Compile time
In computer science, compile time refers to either the operations performed by a compiler , programming language requirements that must be met by source code for it to be successfully compiled , or properties of the program that can be reasoned about at compile time.The operations performed at...
checks, and offer "stronger" type-safety guarantees; this is the source of its name. It is non-commercial, though it was originally a commercial project developed by a small start-up company called Animorphic.
History
Dave Griswold wanted to use Smalltalk more extensively, but the existing implementations weren't sufficient for his needs. He wanted to improve the performance, add type-checking, and use native UI widgets. His efforts resulted in the 1993 paper he co-authored with Gilad BrachaGilad Bracha
Gilad Bracha is a software engineer, a co-author of the second and third editions of the Java Language Specification, a major contributor to the second edition of the Java Virtual Machine Specification, and the creator of the Newspeak programming language....
. This version was based on adding type-checking to the ParcPlace Systems implementation of Smalltalk; an implementation that started from scratch would gain a better typing system.
He became interested in the improvements that the Self team had achieved, and envisioned the same techniques used to improve Smalltalk. Urs Hölzle
Urs Hoelzle
Urs Hölzle is senior vice president of operations and Google Fellow at Google. As one of Google's first ten employees and its first VP of Engineering, he has shaped much of Google's development processes and infrastructure....
, who worked on the powerful Self compiler, spoke with Griswold about implementing the same "type feedback" in a Smalltalk compiler. Griswold, Hölzle, Lars Bak
Lars Bak (computer programmer)
Lars Bak is a Danish computer programmer who currently works for Google where he has contributed to the Chrome browser by developing the V8 JavaScript engine...
and others formed a small company (LongView Technologies, doing business as Animorphic Systems) to re-implement Strongtalk. Work began in 1994 and they completed an implementation in 1996. However, the company was bought by Sun
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
in 1997, and the team got focused on Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, releasing the HotSpot
HotSpot
HotSpot is a Java virtual machine for desktops and servers, maintained and distributed by Oracle Corporation. It features techniques such as just-in-time compilation and adaptive optimization designed to improve performance.-History:...
virtual machine, and work on Strongtalk stalled.
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
released the 1997 re-implementation of Strongtalk as open source software under the "revised" BSD license
BSD licenses
BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses. The original license was used for the Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix-like operating system after which it is named....
, including the Strongtalk system image
System image
A system image in computing is a copy of the entire state of a computer system stored in some non-volatile form such as a file. A system is said to be capable of using system images if it can be shut down and later restored to exactly the same state...
(in 2002) and the virtual machine
Virtual machine
A virtual machine is a "completely isolated guest operating system installation within a normal host operating system". Modern virtual machines are implemented with either software emulation or hardware virtualization or both together.-VM Definitions:A virtual machine is a software...
(in 2006.) Strongtalk is touted as the fastest implementation of Smalltalk
Smalltalk
Smalltalk is an object-oriented, dynamically typed, reflective programming language. Smalltalk was created as the language to underpin the "new world" of computing exemplified by "human–computer symbiosis." It was designed and created in part for educational use, more so for constructionist...
. Strongtalk is currently available for Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
(other port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
s are in the works) and includes a basic development environment.
External links
- www.strongtalk.org
- Strong Smalltalk at smalltalk.org
- Google Code Strongtalk site