GNU Smalltalk 2.95b released

Since I won't be able to work much on gst for a while, it's time to
release a new alpha.

The new release is available from:

   ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/smalltalk/smalltalk-2.95b.tar.gz

This release is known to fail the testsuite on the x86-64 architecture.

This release is almost feature complete with respect to 3.0; the only
main missing piece is the conversion from the old syntax to the new one
of the Smalltalk source code supplied with the distribution.

Changes include:

* Bug fixes in the new syntax parser.

* Conversion tool from old to new syntax.

* Continuations and generators have moved to the base image.

* Revamped package manager.

** All packages in the distribution are now installed in the new ".star"
format (for SmallTalk ARchive). ".star" files include at the top a
package.xml file (whose format is the same as the <package> tag of
packages.xml).  The name of the ".star" file should be the same as the
name of the package if the package.xml file has a <name> tag.

** In install mode, gst-package automatically creates a ".star" file.

** gst-package also accepts ".star" files on the command line; in this
case, install mode will simply copy the file instead of rebuilding it
from scratch.

** Packages can specify a "testing-only" subpackage that is loaded when
running tests (e.g. with "gst-load --test" or "gst-sunit --package"),
but not when loading the package normally.  This is done with a <test>
tag nested into <package>.

* Portability improvements for gst-load/gst-sunit/gst-package.

* The graphical browser can now be started just by typing "gst-blox".

* Class library improvements in the area of file systems.

* GNU Smalltalk now needs InfoZIP to be installed on the machine where
it is running, in order to use the new compressed package facility.  In
the future, the dependency on InfoZIP will be limited to compiling GNU
Smalltalk, or may be removed altogether.

* Since they are not portable outside Unix systems, the `archive'
virtual filesystems (deb, lslR, mailfs, patchfs, uar, urar, uzoo, ulha,
ucpio, utar) are now available only if the VFSAddOns package is loaded.
  Without the package, only #uzip is available and it will only support
extracting from ZIP files.


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> I tried 2.95b and the testsuite fails for tests 43-107 (ANSI tests).
> Can I enter this in the issue tracker?

Well, nobody is using it so far, but yes, of course, so we can test it.
(Krishna has access to the website).  Be sure to specify your system,
and you can also attach the log of "make" (the more features you test,
the better).

> The other thing required is a little clarification about the various
> versions is use and preparation. The alpha site for example lists
> 2.3a, 2.95{ab} and the mailing list talks about 3.0 (where is 3.0 btw?
> CVS Head?)

2.3.5 is the last stable release.

3.0 betas are called 2.95{a,b}.

> The other Q I have is regarding gtk+ toolkit. MY understanding is
> Browser->Blox->Tk | Gtk .  Is that correct? I configured with
> --enable-gtk=blox and when I run gst-blox, I get a backtrace.

If you want to try BloxTK instead, don't configure with --enable-gtk=blox.

> Congratulations for all the cool features that were added although
> star seems to be an improvement, I still prefer directory and source
> files especially in the case of browser not working and the need to
> unzip and rezip the package.

Note that "make something.star" will do that automatically.  star
files are only for installation.

Paolo


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Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> This release is almost feature complete with respect to 3.0; the only
> main missing piece is the conversion from the old syntax to the new one
> of the Smalltalk source code supplied with the distribution.

I would like to be able to file-in new syntax files with an
STEvaluationDriver by 3.0, which probably would be mostly the same as

*** implement GST syntax parser for STClassLoader

Incidentally, what's happening in Montreal?

--
;;; Stephen Compall ** http://scompall.nocandysw.com/blog **
But you know how reluctant paranormal phenomena are to reveal
themselves when skeptics are present. --Robert Sheaffer, SkI 9/2003


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>> This release is almost feature complete with respect to 3.0; the only
>> main missing piece is the conversion from the old syntax to the new
>> one of the Smalltalk source code supplied with the distribution.
>
> I would like to be able to file-in new syntax files with an
> STEvaluationDriver by 3.0, which probably would be mostly the same as
>
> *** implement GST syntax parser for STClassLoader

Yes, it is.  And I need it for automatic documentation generation of
Blox/TCP/I18N, so it's a blocker for 3.0.  Daniele is working on it from
time to time.

> Incidentally, what's happening in Montreal?

I'm there for my daily work.  Nothing related to Smalltalk or GNU
Smalltalk. :-)

Paolo


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