On 05 May 2011, at 09:58, Toon Verwaest wrote: > Hi, > > I can tell you that independent of how the industry might perceive the > language Smalltalk, learning Smalltalk will make you personally a better > software engineer. And this is what the industry does want. You will look at > programming from a new angle and this will give you an edge. > > This is also true for learning other old languages like Scheme or Lisp. As > long as you stay within your Java / .NET bubble you will be one in a billion. > If you learn Smalltalk, the fact you know something that other people might > not makes you more special. The only negative part of learning Smalltalk > while working on other types of applications is that you will eat your shoe > 95% of the time hating that Java / .NET aren't more evolved and flexible :) > > As it seems that you are already working on a project revolving around > Smalltalk, be very happy that you are getting the opportunity to learn it; > you'll come out for the better. > > Lastly, don't care too much about popularity within industry. If you take the > time to learn the systems for yourself you will probably learn to understand > the differences yourself. You are currently also part of industry and > obviously don't know Smalltalk well yet; how informed was your decision to > not know Smalltalk? You are part of "the industry" making other people not > choose Smalltalk based on your (non-)choice of not using Smalltalk; if they > would all think this way! Sheep won't change anything :) > > cheers, > Toon
Very well written, Toon! And like you say, there is a danger: Smalltalk is the Red Pill, once you know it and get it, you will never want to go back. You have been warned. Sven
