Re: [Help-smalltalk] What strategy to use when developing applications with GST?

[Paolo Bonzini]

On 08/18/2010 04:15 PM, ZuLuuuuuu wrote:
> gst-remote --server -I ../iliad.im
> gst-remote -e "(Iliad.SwazooIliad startOn:8888) printNl"

So far so good.

> 4) gst-remote -e "(FileStream fileIn: 'MyFileIn.st') printNl

Or gst-remote -f MyFileIn.st

> The problem with this approach is that I need to put
>
> Namespace current: Iliad []
>
> around all my classes to keep it organized.

Just put this in MyFileIn.st instead.  However, I suggest you use 
another namespace for your application, and import Iliad in it using the 
#import: pragma:

Namespace current: YourNamespace [
    <import: Iliad>

    ...
]

> The second solution is to use package system of GNU Smalltalk. First three
> steps are the same with above. Then I proceeded like this:
>
> 4) I created a package.xml with an appropriate content.
>
> 5) Executed gst-package on this package.xml to create a .star file as root
> user (or could use --target-directory flag to create it on my ~/.st
> directory).

Do use --target-directory.  Use iliad.im's directory instead of ~/.st.

BTW you'll still need a way to import the Iliad namespace if you use the 
technique I suggested above, for example a small file containing only

Eval [
    Namespace current import: Iliad
]

> 6) Then loaded the package in with:
>
> gst-remote -e "(PackageLoader fileInPackage: 'Iliad-More-MyApp') printNl"
>
> Question 2: Is this the way how I should develop my application?

It could be.

> Question 3: When I modify something, I recreate the package and try to load
> the new package in, I guess it does not load it because it is already
> loaded. So my changes do not take effect. How can I force PackageLoader to
> load the new package in?

Smalltalk removeFeature: #'Iliad-More-MyApp'.
PackageLoader fileInPackage: 'Iliad-More-MyApp'.

You can put this in a single gst-remote invocation and put that in a script.

> Question 5: When using the gst-browser, should I use the file out feature to
> keep my application on a VCS like Git or Bazaar? Or am I supposed to use a
> solution inside the browser to keep track of my code. I guess this is how it
> is done in Squeak, Dolphin etc?

Use a VCS.

> Question 6: Again, when deploying my application would using the file out
> feature (and then preparing the .star package) be an elegant solution or
> when you develope an application on the browser it is supposed to be
> distributed via the image file?

Distribute using .star packages.

> Question 7: Does anybody use gst-browser to develop real applications yet?
> It seems to be giving errors for some basic things like creating a class :(

I think Nicolas and Sebastien do sometimes use it, since they reported 
bugs, but I'm not sure.

Paolo