Re: [Help-smalltalk] new to gst coming from VAST

[Ildar Mulyukov]

        Hi, Robert!

I'm quite new to Smalltalk/Gst too. Still, I spent some time to dig  
into it and I can share my own opinion. Please consider following as my  
IMHO!

Paolo and others, please please forgive me as the opinion may be too  
straight and not 100% true.

On 04.12.2007 00:04:33, RK wrote:
> We are in a dilemma of these:
> - port our applications to other ST system.

This is definitely preferable.

> - port to other language/framework (some already done and moved to  
> Python)
>
> I tried gst and the BLOX browsers which are nice and easy, and really  
> enough for start.

BLOX is very basic. Experienced smalltalkers most probably would  
dislike it. The main problem of Blox/Browser is that it's not in  
extensive use by anyone (this is just my assumption). It lacks some  
very basic things such as Keyboard Shortcuts. Still debugging exists  
and works. But with 2.95с I couldn't effectively use the technique  
"Send message-Trace in debugger-Change method-Try again cycle" because  
of stability problems.

> *** My questions:
> - is there a HOWTO or a QUICK GUIDE about GST for Stupid VASTers?  :)  
> (main differences in the use of the system, etc)

There's a tutorial which explains CLI. Nothing about GUI/Blox/Browser.

> - 90% of our customers use Win32. Any plan for a native release?
> - One of our key application running at 6 customers is a CMS system,  
> heavily depending on the WebConnection feature of VAST. Is there any  
> web server component for GST? Pure CGI is more than enough, as it is  
> only a CMS system, not the runtime.

This part is developing. Too early for production.

> I'm also afraid of moving the database layer...

Anyone tested DBI? Stress tests, unit tests?

> We would like to preserve the application logic existing in smalltalk  
> and we would like  to move to open source as VAST is still painfully  
> expensive and its long term (long term!!!) existence is not  
> guaranteed (if IBM drops something....)

While you have the sources of the whole class library, lack of support  
may be not as big problem as it seems. But if you want to extend and  
develop your system... yes, it's a pain in neck.

> I personally DO LOVE smalltalk as the most productive language  
> environment I ever used.
>
> Thanks for any help, recommendations.

My whole opinion about Gst is not optimistic: While having very sweet  
features (some I cannot find in other breeds), _I'm_ _pretty_ _much_  
_unsure_ _about_ _Gst_ _is_ _ready_ _for_ _production_ _use_.

I tried to understand it deeply (see my post about wiki/status page),  
but received no response. I decided to dig things myself, but I cannot  
afford spending much time into it.

Thank you for your attention.
Best regards, Ildar.
--
Ildar  Mulyukov,  free SW designer/programmer
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