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La liberté d'imagination n'est pas une fuite dans l'irréel, elle n'est pas une évasion, elle est audace, invention.

(Eugène Ionesco)

Overview - What is ST/X Smalltalk

ST/X Smalltalk is a complete implementation of the Smalltalk language. Smalltalk/X is not based on the original ST-80 virtual machine implementation and has been written from scratch. However, the API, class libraries and language semantic are highly compatible to ST-80 based Smalltalks, such as VisualWorks, Squeak and others.

Smalltalk/X consists of both an integrated environment for program development AND a standalone Smalltalk compiler(1), which generates true machine code, shared code libraries and binary executables without a need for a so called "image". However, traditional image-based development is also supported and typically used for program development.

The programming environment includes editors, browsers, compiler and debugger and a large library of ready to use building blocks for application writers.
The standalone compiler generates true machine code from Smalltalk source files - and can be used in a batch environment for production/delivery.

Features

Implementation highlights

Notes:
(1)
This requires a host platform specific c-compiler to be installed on the system. For all unix platforms, these are free and typically already part of the installation (gcc). For windows platforms, either the free borland command line tools (bcc55) or a microsoft visual-C package have to be downloaded and installed.
Notice, that a C-compiler is not part of the ST/X's delivery, and must be purchased and installed separately.

However, incremental compilation to bytecode and internal just-in-time compilation to machine code is independent of any C-compiler, and done transparently for all platforms by the Smalltalk/X runtime system itself, without a need for a C-compiler to be installed.

(2)
Dynamic compilation to machine code is not supported for all architectures and CPU dependent. Currently, this feature has been implemented for *86, sparc, rs6k, mc68k, mc88k, mips and alpha based systems;
A hppa code generator backends is being tested.

Notice, that older CPUs may not be supported anymore in newer releases. Please refer to the download section of our website: www.exept.de or contact eXept for further information.

(3)
Currently, this includes Linux-a.out, ELF based (i.e. Linux and System5.4, Unixware, Solaris, SGI-IRIX and OSF-1), AIX3.2 Mac-OSX, and Windows-XP, NT, 95, 98, ME and Vista based operating systems.
On those systems, it is possible to compile primitive C-code and to compile Smalltalk code down to machine code, even from within the browser - without a need to leave the system for a relink.

(4)
It is of course possible, to access system and host specific functions and API's. Therefore, it is also possible to write architecture specific code if there is a need to. But you have to be careful to not loose portability if you do so.

(5)
Some of the listed architectures may not be available at the time you read this. This is not due to technical, but mainly for business reasons (we simply cannot keep a big number of outdated machines in operation to generate binaries of new versions). Please contact exept if you require an up-to-date version of ST/X for one of these "older" architectures. We are willing to provide one for a service charge based on time & materials.

Availablity

ST/X is a product of Claus Gittinger, Development & Consulting.
ST/X is maintained and further developed by Claus Gittinger and eXept Software AG.

A free version (even for commercial, but not for military use) is available via FTP from www.exept.de. Contact eXept for unlimited licences.


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