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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 is 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 hilights

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, the free borland command line tools have to be downloaded and installed (bcc55).
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 most platforms - even if no c-compiler has been 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, mips and alpha based systems;
mc88k, and hppa code generator backends are 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 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 and Windows-XP, Windows-NT and Windows-95 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, and it is also possible to write architecture specific code if there is a need to.
Of course, programs using such functions or system specific features will not show the same behavior or execute correctly on all architectures.

Availablity

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

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


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Copyright © 1986-2006 Claus Gittinger Development & Consulting
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Doc $Revision: 1.42 $ $Date: 2006/08/24 15:39:23 $