Am 25.06.2008 um 20:00 schrieb Yoshiki Ohshima: >>>> There's also a warning at http://wiki.squeak.org/squeak that if you >>>> want to run eToys, you need to run a different version of Squeak >>>> than >>>> everybody else. >>>> >>> >>> *That* is Etoys. What is wrong with it? >>> >> Just out of curiosity: >> Exactly how is it different from vanilla squeak? (If there is such a >> thing at all.) > > Whichever two images you would like to compare (why not write > "Squeak"?), launch two images and evaluate: > > Smalltalk condenseSources. > > or equivalent in them. Each of image will make a .sources file so you > get two .sources file. Then, use diff (perhaps you might want to > convert CR to LF before that) to see the difference. > >> Is it a different VM, or just a different distribution since it has a >> different binary blob? > > The VM is well synchronized with the trunk VM. They were identical > a few weeks ago. We now have a few more patches in the OLPC VM branch > but it is not significant. The VM is a separeted rpm BTW. > > Why do you refer it to as "binary blob"?
I guess because others referred to the image as that, without understanding what it actually is, and how it comes across as derogatory. Anyway, to give a bit of background: A version of Etoys is still in the squeak.org version, but it is not really maintained there. The vast majority of the squeak.org hacker community is not interested in Etoys, so there is some bit rot. Things gets changed by people who do not use Etoys, accidentally breaking it (due the historical lack of modularity that Yoshiki mentioned). The VPRI-sponsored programmers lack the man-power to both develop Etoys and follow the squeak.org releases at the same time. Also they are under time pressure because VPRI will stop to fund Etoys development soon (VPRI is developing the next system but it will be a couple of years until that is ready). I understand that the nature of Smalltalk development seems strange to others (although it has a really nice community), but it is nothing to fear. Maybe if Etoys was developed by more popular means there would be more contributors. But that remains speculation, since why hasn't then someone developed something similar using a popular language? - Bert - _______________________________________________ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
