Smalltalk Zero
stz
When we send constants: to a class or a trait we're not just recording that there is one but we also want to generate a method for accessing that value easily later. The simple example: iterable-t = { trait | constants: ( element-class: class, ) } We want that to produce a method like
stz
It's time to talk about the compiler. The compiler has to provide a minimum level of capability so that the rest of the code can construct itself. Without the compiler there is no point to Smalltalk Zero. (Part of me does wonder if stz can eventually elevate itself
stz
Currently traits have a property called requires: which is an array of method signatures. We need a way to specify more than just implementations that must exist for a class to be part of a trait group. Let's segway a moment and figure out what a class even
stz
Breaking down the class definition we have a problem: list = { class | parameters: (of: object-t,), constants: (element-class: of,), traits: (sequenceable-t of: element-class,), variables: ( elements: &array of: element-class, length: uint, allocator: &memory-allocator,) } The constants section references a variable that doesn't exist. The traits section references a variable that
stz
Just as an side back to the getters and setters of Person's name. My intention is that declaring the class auto-creates the getter and setter for you. Person = ( name: string, age: (quantity of: seconds) ) However, how do you specify which variables you want to be public and which
stz
One of the hallmarks of Smalltalk code is sending 'new' to a class. This creates you a new object that you can then configure with message sends, eg: Person new name: 'Jane'; height: 5 foot + 6 inches; yourself If we were to use this approach for
stz
For my own sanity, now that the examples are getting more complicated, I really needed some syntax highlighting support for the language. I need it in two places - here in ghost, the blogging software I use, and in zed.dev the editor i'm using. This was a
stz
Since I'm trying to write example code I have found it annoying that I don't have syntax highlighting. My editor of choice these days is zed which uses tree-sitter as its parser. I suppose I could take everything we know and try to make a parser
stz
One of the cool features of the maybe pattern is how some values have a 'not instantiated' state by default - such as pointers. A memory-address of 0 can mean 'there is no pointer' while any other value means there is a pointer. The default maybe
stz
A controversial topic in the programming world - how do you end a statement? In Smalltalk you do it with a fullstop . In C you do it with a ; In Javascript you do it with a ; unless you don't because sometimes it knows what you mean. In Python
stz
Now that we have traits, interfaces, generics, poly types ... we'll just call them traits until I realise that's the wrong word ... we can move on to the burning question in my mind. How the heck do we implement array? array = (address: memory-address, length: uint,) Great! That
stz
I posed the question - if we have the ability to do traits then should we not favour it over inheritance? The answer is about simplicity of understanding the code and also writing it. Freedom of expression is great but freedom from other peoples excessive expression also has its merits.