DabbleDB News

There is a new demonstration of the DabbleDB features available. Avi Bryant is interviewed by Jon Udell on the latest "Screening Room".

SSpec ported to Squeak

Keith Hodges has ported SSpec v0.13 to Squeak. SSpec is a framework for writing executable specifications for Smalltalk programs.

It is available from SqueakSource at http://www.squeaksource.com/SSpec. Note that there is a QuickReference and a Manual available.

Win an ipod with Smalltalk and Gjallar

Göran announced a Gjallar competition where you could win an ipod.
Write a nice useful enhancement for the Squeak and Seaside based web issue tracker.

The Future of the Internet is not Secondlife

Will Croquet become the future of the internet? Read here.

Croquet 3D Puzzle

You like puzzles and 3D. Then have a look at CalmoSofts Croquet contribution.

ST Code Search on Google

Looking for some Smalltalk code? Try the new codesearch on google.
Here is a simple example to search for "continuation":

http://www.google.com/codesearch?q=lang:smalltalk+continuation

Jobtrends for Apples and Oranges

Read a posting by Donald Smith about continuous Eclipse demand. He used Indeed.com job trends as indicator.

Curious as I am I started to play with it:

Looks like .NET is more required than J2EE. But if they are right it is better to know about C than Java, C++, C# or Assembler.

Or maybe it is better to learn E since it is more required than C or Java. Yes there is an E programming language. But maybe it just counts the character or counts e's like in e-business.

There is also an interesting race between Rails and Seaside.

In the end we should also not forget to compare apples with oranges... ;)

Keep on talking small

Do you want to know why the Eclipse Foundation is full of Smalltalk discussions? Then start reading here. Especially I like this part:

"Every lunch conversation will hit upon Smalltalk within 10 minutes, no matter what topic the conversation starts from."

The story tells us two things:

1. The Eclipse foundation has lunch together with their webmaster (harmless)
   
2. Take care - they are infected by the Smalltalk virus
   

I'm infected by the Smalltalk virus too (since 1995) and many of my technical conversation will also end up in talking how easy and fascinating a developers
life is in Smalltalk.

I remember the "old days" were (in a first intoxination of Smalltalk) I started to write some online books about it (information were sparse). Now much better documentation is available to learn from.

Through these activities I got in contact and started to learn from "old dudes who know Smalltalk". I assembled a Smalltalk CD, organized Smalltalk events, helped to reassemble the German user group, and contributed code and help to VW, Squeak, ST/MT and Smallscript. I showed Smalltalk at every opportunity. So it is true - I'm guilty of infecting others.

We were all once warned by Andy Bower from ObjectArts (creator of Dolphin Smalltalk):

"Smalltalk is dangerous. It is a drug. My advice to you would be don't try it; it could ruin your life."

Be warned to learn Smalltalk just to understand Ralphs Blog postings about "Design Patterns and language design".

Smalltalks simplicity, beauty and the power of pure objects may affect you. All the way down - everything is an Object. Once learned it may be frustrating to work with newer technologies that will never catch up with such a dynamic object system.

For me it is too late, I'm infected. I have to keep on talking small...