Re: [Help-smalltalk] GNU vs. Squeak vs. VW

[Stephen Compall]

On Sat, 2007-07-14 at 12:57 -0500, Frank Sergeant wrote:
> I certainly agree, in general.  I feel the need especially for a
> debugger (and browser and inspector) but I wonder if the GST regulars
> are already doing the equivalent in some way?  Perhaps by using Emacs?
> 
> I often use Emacs with several programming languages but especially with
> Common Lisp.  I don't even use the fancy Emacs SLIME interface to Lisp,
> just the default interface that comes with Emacs.  (Position the cursor
> at the end of a form and press C-x C-e to execute the form, sending the
> results to the Lisp buffer that is open, etc.)
> 
> Could the regular users of GST describe how they go about developing and
> debugging in GST?

See section 4.3 "Smalltalk interactor mode" in (gst.info)Interactor::.
It provides a similar experience to the run-lisp interface you describe.
I do not describe all its features; please see that node.

After running M-x gst, I mostly rely on C-c f, which files in a file,
defaulting to the current.  I occasionally use C-c c, which sends the
current method, when trying to fix test failures.

I have never had a need for a debugger outside of C and C++, even when
one was available.  So I cannot help you with this.

I have only one wishlist item here, that M-. could take a symbol and pop
up an interactive buffer of methods, using the FileSegments stored as
source code when filing in to provide file jumps.  This would no longer
work with STInST, and given that I mostly code in local areas now, I'm
not sure that I would even use it anymore.  I did use it sometimes with
SLIME, though.

Incidentally, I also run gst with some ulimits set to avoid runaway
allocation, as with the 'HashedCollection empty' issue fixed a while ago
as well as potential problems in my own code:

ulimit -d 175000
ulimit -m 175000
ulimit -v 250000

Change as appropriate for your free memory.

-- 
;;; Stephen Compall ** http://scompall.nocandysw.com/blog **
"Peta" is Greek for fifth; a petabyte is 10 to the fifth power, as
well as fifth in line after kilo, mega, giga, and tera.
  -- Lee Gomes, performing every Wednesday in his tech column
     "Portals" on page B1 of The Wall Street Journal

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