Improvements in the user interface of the smalltalk programming environment

Date

1991-05

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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.

Description

Keywords

Smalltalk-80 (Computer program language), Smalltalk/V (Computer program language), User interfaces (Computer systems)

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