Reading list

Historically, languages designed for other people to use have been bad: Cobol, PL/I, Pascal, Ada, C++.
The good languages have been those that were designed for their own creators: C, Perl, Smalltalk, Lisp.
(Paul Graham)

How to use the System

Read "Getting Started". This document describes how to start & stop the Smalltalk/X system, how to edit text and how pop up-menus are used. Also, command line arguments and scripting options are described in detail.

If you don't know the Smalltalk language

Read the "Smalltalk tutorial". Although this document is not yet finished, it gives some information on the concepts of objects, classes, messages etc.
Read a textbook on the Smalltalk language
A good introduction is Ivan Tomek's "The Joy Of Smalltalk", which (many thanks to the author) can be freely used and copied.
Although originally written for VisualWorks Smalltalk, the information therein also applies to other Smalltalk systems (be prepared, that some examples do not work 100% in Smalltalk/X).
In addition, Ivans "Introduction to Smalltalk" contains a step-by-step quick introduction and executable code examples. This document has been adapted to Smalltalk/X.
Thanks a lot, Ivan!
Canol Gökel has written an introduction for GNU-Smalltalk called "Computer Programming using GNU-Smalltalk", which is also valid for Smalltalk/X (mostly). To evaluate the step-by-step examples of that text, you can:
- either use an Evaluation Workspace, type in the examples there, and execute them with the DoIt function,
- or start Smalltalk/X with the "--repl" (i.e. Read-Eval-Print-Loop) command line option, and execute the examples without a graphical user interface.
More literature links are found here.
Read the "overview" document, which gives you a very rough idea of which classes are included and what they are used for. Things are not described in much detail there, but you will get an idea of what is most interesting and where (i.e. in which classes) to look for more details.
Get a feeling for the basic classes.
See the class overview documents for a starting point.
C++ and Java Programmers who have problems reading Smalltalk, should read "I can Read C++ and Java but not Smalltalk (PDF)", by Wilf LaLonde.
Lisp Programmers will find many familiar concepts in Smalltalk. They sure will like "Smalltalk for Lispers" which describes these similarities.
Write little programs
Since Smalltalk is well aimed for applications with a graphical user interface, start in that area. It is much easier than in other languages and you will be rewarded with something 'you can look at' quite early.
Start with simple board games, notepads, telephone/address/todo list browsers.

Another useful starter is the "List of useful selectors"; if used with the SystemBrowser, this list helps you to find out how and where classes and their methods are used. Almost all classes source is there, and most of the stuff is well documented.
Also, all classes include some documentation and examples (usually found in the classes documentation category) which can be viewed with the browser.

Finally, many methods contain a comment which demonstrates a typical use of that method.

Although the Smalltalk language itself is simple and easy to learn, there is a huge class library containing ready to be used building blocks.
Don't get shocked by the number of existing classes and methods - you don't have to know and remember everything by heart (even the authors of those systems need the browser to find their way through ;-).

If you know Smalltalk, but want to see interesting things about ST/X

On the basic class level, Smalltalk/X is pretty much compatible to other Smalltalk implementations. So if you already know collections, streams & friends, read:

"Differences between ST/X and other Smalltalks",
for an (incomplete) list of differences

Also, interesting information is found in:

However, for experienced programmers, most of this is well known.

The main differences are found in the implementation of the view classes; it is recommended, to read:

"Quick introduction to view programming"

which gives you a step-by-step tutorial on this.

If you want to do some GUI programming, read:

"Using the UIPainter"

which gives a short introduction on how to use the UIPainter, which is a tool for painting graphical user interfaces.

When programming, start with some of the included graphical demos. Load them using the FileBrowser and have a look at and understand the code.

Nice short demos are found in the directory "doc/coding" and "clients/Demos". Most of those demos try to point out a specific feature. The stuff in "doc/coding" is less oriented toward graphics.

Then turn to the more complex demos - the DrawTool is a pretty (and powerful) application to look at.
Also, the 3D demos found in "clients/GLdemos" invite to play and try new things.

If you know Smalltalk, and want to write primitives and inline C code

Read:

"How to write inline C code"
to learn about how primitive C code is written and
"How to create & add binary classes/libraries"
on how to get them compiled and integrated into your Smalltalk.

The later text also gives you a step-by-step guide and examples of how you can create and include your own binary class libraries.

Look into already existing methods which include primitive code to see concrete examples. A browser on all methods with primitive code is opened by:

    Tools::NewSystemBrowser
	browseMethodsWhere:[:cls :mthd :sel | mthd hasPrimitiveCode]
	title:'methods with primitive code'

(be a bit patient; startup takes a while, since the source of all methods has to be processed...)

If your system supports dynamic loading of binary code (currently SYS5-based, Solaris, Linux and Windows-based systems), primitive (i.e. C-) code can be typed right into the browser and accepted.

If you know Smalltalk, but are interested in its history and some philosophic background

Alan Kay wrote an interesting paper on the early history of Smalltalk: "The Early History of Smalltalk (pdf)"

<info@exept.de>

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