Talks to Watch

MountainWest RubyConf 2014 - But Really, You Should Learn Smalltalk

27K views · Apr 28, 2014 · 28:06 · 3 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2016–2024

Noel Rappin's MountainWest RubyConf talk introduces Smalltalk to Ruby programmers. He compares the two languages' object models, blocks, 1-based arrays, simple syntax and live programming environment, and walks through sample code.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN commenters point Rubyists and the Smalltalk-curious to it as an approachable introduction that shows the Smalltalk system browser and Pharo environment in action.

“if you enjoy Ruby, watch this”HN comment, 2023

What Hacker News said 6

Strongly recommendsbenjaminjosephwNov 2020

“a video showing Pharo and Smalltalk that blew me away[0]”

Showing Pharo and Smalltalk

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I came across a video showing Pharo and Smalltalk that blew me away[0] and I completely agree with you. In some fields, we are heading back in this direction with literate programming (notebooks) and new languages like Dark that attempt to rethink some of our ingrained traditions for engineering workflows. I'm working on a project in this space too. There is still hope! [0] - MountainWest RubyConf 2014 - But Really, You Should Learn Smalltalk ( this video )

in “The Early History of Smalltalk (1993)” · view on HN
Recommendsbencoman71Jul 2016

“He provides an introduction to Smalltalk”

Introduction to Smalltalk for Rubyists

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> The colorful Playskool environment That was likely Squeak, not Pharo. Pharo has muted a lot of the UI colours to be more appropriate for a business environment. > How anyone could possibly be productive in such an environment. What is it that's so attractive about it to Smalltalkers? Perhaps its useful to get some outsiders perspectives.... Avdi Grimm has written a few books about Ruby. He records his experience trying Pharo in "I make you hate Ruby in 7 minutes" link Noel Rappin has written a few books about Ruby & Javascript. He provides an introduction to Smalltalk in "MountainWest RubyConf 2014 - But Really, You Should Learn Smalltalk" this video

in “How learning Smalltalk can make you a better developer” · view on HN
RecommendssebastianconcptAug 2023

“if you enjoy Ruby, watch this”

Smalltalk talk for Ruby fans

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Because it managed to produce frictionless adoption in academia. All the rest is downstream of that. MVPs in entrepreneurial initiatives are done with that. RESTful APIs are based on the prototypes that come from academia. Good libraries for data processing of lots of data required by academic studies became easily adopted there. So a less-effort/easiest-convenience law inside academia made it win. BTW, if you enjoy Ruby, watch this: this video

in “Ask HN: Why Did Python Win?” · view on HN
Cites itgreggybApr 2020

“You can see an example at 15:00 of this video”

Shows the System Browser example

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You might like Smalltalk. Programs are stored as images. An image holds the entire (fully introspectable, editable) runtime and your program. You can browse through your image with a powerful suite of built-in tools. Pieces of the image can be "filed out", or serialized to a file format. You can see an example at 15:00 of this video - some snippets of code and then showing the System Browser. this video

in “Maybe visual programming is the answer, maybe not” · view on HN
Cites itpjmlpAug 2020
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Anders explains it better than me, "Anders Hejlsberg on Modern Compiler Construction" link Basically ability to see the language AST at all time, do time checking with broken code, incremental compilation, REPL and IDE editing experience is fused together. Here is another short examples, "7 minutes of Pharo Smalltalk for Rubyists" link "MountainWest RubyConf 2014 - But Really, You Should Learn Smalltalk" this video

Cites itsebastianconcptJan 2024
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MountainWest RubyConf 2014 - But Really, You Should Learn Smalltalk - this video 7 minutes of Pharo Smalltalk for Rubyists - link

in “Smalltalk simplicity and consistency vs. other languages (2022) [video]” · view on HN