Images or files in GNU Smalltalk?

Question

Hi, I'm new to Smalltalk. I think I understand the basics of the language and now want to start with GNU Smalltalk (as it's free and has bindings for GTK).

As I'm coming from the PHP and Java-Corner, I'm not familiar with the concept of the Smalltalk images. And I even read now, that you don't need to use images in GNU Smalltalk. Now I'm confused ;-)

So is it possible to work with files and to include the classes I need with the PackageLoader class?

I would be happy when I could use my favourite texteditor (vim) for coding instead of an IDE, too ;-)

Please enlight me :-)

Answer 1

There's a free book which seems to answer your newbie questions - Computer Programming using GNU Smalltalk

Answer 2

Yes, you can do that. However using an image as a kind of preloaded package cache will speed up loading your application. See http://smalltalk.gnu.org/blog/bonzinip/seaside-development-gnu-smalltalk for an example.

Answer 3

Being a hard core smalltalker myself, I must say: I personally would NEVER work in Smalltalk without the IDE. You will never "get the feeling for it" if you try Smalltalk in a classical edit-link-compile style. It is possible, but only for well debugged, ready to execute programs - not for development.

So please: don't do it - you get so much power from the browser, and due to being dynamically typed, you really need it to be happy with Smalltalk.

PS: but, of course, you can do it: in Smalltalk/X, you can even go along the old style, by editing classes into individual files, compile them to .obj-files, link them to .dll's, and execute them as .exe. You can even debug them using print statements, if you want...