Latest Commits
- Attempt to support Linux LFS (large-file-support, for 64-bit files).Attempt to support Linux LFS (large-file-support, for 64-bit files). [DBH] common.mk […]
- Added a dummy non-working GDB init file to access debug.cpp functions. Presumably...Added a dummy non-working GDB init file to access debug.cpp functions. Presumably header support will make it work. [DBH] .gdbinit […]
- fixed socket streams to use new stream apifixed socket streams to use new stream api [DBH] src/net/sockets.slate […]
- XOPEN posix source macro change for bsdXOPEN posix source macro change for bsd [DBH] common.mk [DBH] src/vm/external-library.cpp […]
- bsd dlerror fixbsd dlerror fix [DBH] src/vm/external-library.cpp […]
- Added NAND and NOR as nand: and nor:, and butNot: as logical non-implication.Added NAND and NOR as nand: and nor:, and butNot: as logical non-implication. [DBH] src/core/boolean.slate […]
- Added "material impliciation" to Booleans.Added "material impliciation" to Booleans. [DBH] src/core/boolean.slate […]
- Further shell quoting for space characters.Further shell quoting for space characters. [DBH] src/lib/platform.slate […]
- Fixed Platform escapeForShell to escape backslashes themselves.Fixed Platform escapeForShell to escape backslashes themselves. [DBH] src/lib/platform.slate […]
- Extracted the configuration of the files to use for bootstrap image compilation into...Extracted the configuration of the files to use for bootstrap image compilation into a separate text file, and arranged for better support of bootstrapping a different source directory than the present one. [DBH] Makefile [DBH] common.mk [DBH] src/mobius/bootstrap-files.txt [DBH] src/mobius/build.slate […]
Recommended Reading
While some material is provided on the website as a guide and reference to the language, libraries, and frameworks, there is no book yet on Slate or copious sources of introductory material. So, here’s a list of things that should help the novice on their way to full mastery:
Lots of good stuff on readscheme.org, in particular the implementation techniques page.
Insights that drive Slate design
Lee Salzman’s presentation (PDF) and thesis (PDF) on “PMD”: prototypes with multiple dispatch. These were followed by a more mature paper (PDF) he gave at ECOOP 2005. The former is great for laymen, and the latter for anyone interested in the formal underpinnings and more technical details.
- The Early History of Smalltalk (cleaned-up version, without figures) by Alan Kay.
- The Design Principles Behind Smalltalk by Dan Ingalls, from Byte Magazine, Aug. 1981.
- Jecel Assumpcao Jr.’s NeoSmalltalk ideas (previously Merlin (http://www.merlintec.com) or Self/R).
Various papers by Brian Foote:
- Attack of the Clones (PDF), describing design pattern implementation simplifications using Self’s semantics.
- The Selfish Class, describing good rules of thumb in program and framework design.
- Lifecycle and Refactoring Patterns that Support Evolution and Reuse
- Evolution, Architecture, and Metamorphosis
- Designing to Facilitate Change with Object-Oriented Frameworks
- Designing Reusable Classes
It is also worth reading about Self and Strongtalk, as these were major inspirations.