Improvements in the user interface of the smalltalk programming environment
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Abstract
Object-oriented problem solving and programming represent a way of thinking and a methodology for computer programming that is quite different from the traditional approach supported by procedural programming languages. Object-oriented languages provide powerful features such as encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, supporting concepts that make computer problem solving a more natural (human-oriented) activity. Smalltalk is the one of several object-oriented languages. Smalltalk researchers often argue that Smalltalk is too radical, since its syntax is totally different from conventional languages, even though the syntax itself represents object-oriented programming concepts. Since the Smalltalk language is, in its nature, embedded into its programming environment, a programmer always has to deal with a large Smalltalk system to write even a small program. It often leads the programmer to confusion and frustration. The objective of this research was to develop a new easy-to-use user interface for the Smalltalk/V 286 system, which is an extension of Smalltalk- 80. The user interface helps programmers read and write Smalltalk code more easily by providing several system browsers and by subscheming the Smalltalk system. Also, the user interĀ£ ace lets the programmer write a Smalltalk source code that need not be embedded into the Smalltalk system as a method. With this source code writing facility, the Smalltalk system does not have to grow with increased use, and the programmer can load and execute the code whenever needed.