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smalltalk

Anatomy of a Cheap Win

February 26, 2013 22:56:35.584

I noticed that the app I'm working on does a fair bit of GC right as it starts (this is ObjectStudio). Turns out, there was a really cheap win, as you can see from the results below:


ObjectMemory dynamicallyAllocatedFootprint 78967736
 
ObjectMemory currentMemoryPolicy growthRegimeUpperBound 48000000

Pretty simple - just move the growth regime past the base memory size, and you get an immediate boost. Next up - figure out whether that starting size is optimal.

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posted by James Robertson

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js4u

JS 4U 248: Draggable Waypoints

February 26, 2013 7:25:59.889

Javascript 4 U

Today's Javascript 4 You looks at draggable waypoints in maps using Javascript. If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube.

Join the Facebook Group to discuss the tutorials. You can view the archives here.

To watch now, click on the image below:

draggable waypoints

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:

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posted by James Robertson

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st4u

ST 4U 349: Emergency Evaluator in Pharo

February 25, 2013 1:32:47.982

Today's Smalltalk 4 You looks at the emergency evaluator in Pharo. If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube. To watch now, click on the image below:

emergency evaluator

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:

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posted by James Robertson

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podcastAAC

IM 116: ObjectStudio (AAC)

February 24, 2013 13:40:38.635

Welcome to episode 116 of Independent Misinterpretations - a Smalltalk and dynamic language oriented podcast with James Robertson and David Buck.

This week Dave and I talked about ObjectStudio. As it happens, I've just started a cntract working in that environment, so it seemed like a good time for some "initial" thoughts about the state of ObjectStudio.

You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes (or any other podcatching software) using this feed directly or in iTunes with this one.

To listen now, you can either download the mp3 edition, or the AAC edition. The AAC edition comes with chapter markers. You can subscribe to either edition of the podcast directly in iTunes; just search for Smalltalk and look in the Podcast results. You can subscribe to the mp3 edition directly using this feed, or the AAC edition using this feed using any podcatching software. You can also download the podcast in ogg format.

If you like the music we use, please visit Josh Woodward's site. We use the song Troublemaker for our intro/outro music. I'm sure he'd appreciate your support!

If you have feedback, send it to jarober@gmail.com - or visit us on Facebook - you can subscribe in iTunes using this iTunes enabled feed.. If you enjoy the podcast, pass the word - we would love to have more people hear about Smalltalk!

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posted by James Robertson

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podcast

IM 116: ObjectStudio

February 24, 2013 13:35:06.473

Welcome to episode 116 of Independent Misinterpretations - a Smalltalk and dynamic language oriented podcast with James Robertson and David Buck.

This week Dave and I talked about ObjectStudio. As it happens, I've just started a cntract working in that environment, so it seemed like a good time for some "initial" thoughts about the state of ObjectStudio.

You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes (or any other podcatching software) using this feed directly or in iTunes with this one.

To listen now, you can either download the mp3 edition, or the AAC edition. The AAC edition comes with chapter markers. You can subscribe to either edition of the podcast directly in iTunes; just search for Smalltalk and look in the Podcast results. You can subscribe to the mp3 edition directly using this feed, or the AAC edition using this feed using any podcatching software. You can also download the podcast in ogg format.

If you like the music we use, please visit Josh Woodward's site. We use the song Troublemaker for our intro/outro music. I'm sure he'd appreciate your support!

If you have feedback, send it to jarober@gmail.com - or visit us on Facebook - you can subscribe in iTunes using this iTunes enabled feed.. If you enjoy the podcast, pass the word - we would love to have more people hear about Smalltalk!

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[im116.mp3 ( Size: 12828224 )]

posted by James Robertson

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st4u

ST 4U 348: Reflecting on Class Names

February 22, 2013 0:49:38.922

Today's Smalltalk 4 You looks at the common way to look up Smalltalk class names (things differ a bit in VisualWorks and ObjectStudio). If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube. To watch now, click on the image below:

Class Lookups.

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:


Today we'll continue looking at reflection in Smalltalk. In most Smalltalk implementations (Cincom Smalltalk being the exception), there's one namespace (Smalltalk). Thus, looking up a class by name is simple:


clsName := 'Person'.
cls := Smalltalk at: clsName asSymbol.
^cls new.

That makes reading in data from a source (a file, for instance) that includes class names pretty easy - get the class name, create an instance, and then dump data in the variables as it's found in the file. We'll take a look at that next time.

Need more help? There's a screencast for other topics like this which you may want to watch. Questions? Try the "Chat with James" Google gadget over in the sidebar.

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posted by James Robertson

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stic13

STIC 2013: Get Those Proposals In!

February 22, 2013 0:43:56.041

We are still looking for submissions for some good presentations for the STIC 2013 Conference - especially anything tied into the history of Smalltalk. We'll be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Smalltalk at the show. So:


STIC is a forum where Smalltalk professionals, researchers and enthusiasts can meet and share ideas and experiences. STIC is currently accepting proposals for talks involving Smalltalk technology and other areas of innovation in the software industry. We’re looking forward to an excellent conference and need your participation to maintain the high technical level of the conference!

We are also looking for academic papers for the “Smalltalk Directions” part of the conference. If you plan to submit a paper, please follow the same directions listed below for presentations. Such papers should address possible future directions for Smalltalk and/or Smalltalk-inspired dynamic languages.

The conference will take place at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona on June 9-12, 2013.

Presentations will have 45 minutes time slots including discussion, and they may be in the form of:

  • History of Smalltalk – It’s the 30th Anniversary of the language, and we would love to see presentations on this topic.
  • Technical presentations
  • Experience reports
  • Technology demonstrations
  • Panel discussions
  • Workshops
  • Describe your idea to us!

Proposals should be submitted by email to Sts_Speakers@stic.st and should include the following information:

  • Name
  • Contact information
  • Type of presentation
  • A brief abstract
  • A short biography for the presenter(s)
  • Any date/time constraints
  • Any other information you think we should know

If you cannot discuss the internal application you are working on due to corporate restrictions, perhaps you can discuss the application’s component usage or development process. We also plan to reserve time for short presentations in the form of Lightning Talks and short technology demonstrations, but these will be available for sign-up at the conference rather than as advanced proposals. These talks will be limited to a five- to eight-minute time window. So if you intend to volunteer for one at the conference, please be prepared for that!

Submissions should be received by February 28, 2013, and should be submitted either in PDF or Word (Microsoft) format. Note that submissions with incomplete information may be rejected (particularly if a bio or abstract information is missing).

Presenters will qualify for a discounted registration. If your talk is accepted, we’ll have full details on the specifics.

For updates and announcements about the conference, please visit us on the web at http://www.stic.st

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posted by James Robertson

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smalltalk

Pharo in Bern

February 21, 2013 13:31:27.000

There's going to be a mini-conference in Bern this April:

During April 2-4 we will organize a PharoConf and a MooseDay in Bern, Switzerland. Mark the day and join us. The participation will be free of charge. The conference will focus on interactivity and exchange, and will feature experience report talks, tutorials, show-us-your-project sessions and open discussions.

Interested? Contact Tudor Girba

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posted by James Robertson

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js4u

JS 4U 247: Maps and Waypoints

February 21, 2013 7:29:54.120

Javascript 4 U

Today's Javascript 4 You looks at setting waypoints with the Directions Service. If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube.

Join the Facebook Group to discuss the tutorials. You can view the archives here.

To watch now, click on the image below:

waypoints

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:

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posted by James Robertson

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travel

At the Mall of America

February 20, 2013 22:59:39.332

Earlier this evening, I visited the Mall of America. It's impressively large - the Nickleodeon amusement park is in the middle, surrounded by the stores. I took a photo of that:

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posted by James Robertson

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st4u

ST 4U 347: Which Inspector in ObjectStudio?

February 20, 2013 7:51:02.264

Today's Smalltalk 4 You looks at the inspector that's used in the latest versions of ObjectStudio. If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube. To watch now, click on the image below:

Inspector

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:

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posted by James Robertson

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js4u

JS 4U 246: Directions Service 3

February 19, 2013 1:59:38.617

Javascript 4 U

Today's Javascript 4 You continues looking at the Directions Service APIs in Google Maps. If you have trouble viewing it here in the browser, you can also navigate directly to YouTube.

Join the Facebook Group to discuss the tutorials. You can view the archives here.

To watch now, click on the image below:

directions

If you have trouble viewing that directly, you can click here to download the video directly. If you need the video in a Windows Media format, then download that here.

You can also watch it on YouTube:

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posted by James Robertson

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