Updated trunk image (Squeak3.11-8931-alpha.zip)

Folks -

Since it's been a while, I've put an updated trunk image on

     http://ftp.squeak.org/trunk/Squeak3.11-8931-alpha.zip

The summary of latest changes is below.

Cheers,
   - Andreas

(for the full history refer to the "What's new" section in the image)

[------------------------- updated 01/23/10 ---------------------------]

Modularity
----------
The following packages have been made reloadable: ReleaseBuilder,
ScriptLoader, 311Deprecated, 39Deprecated, Universes, SMLoader, SMBase,
Installer-Core, VersionNumberTests, VersionNumber, Services-Base,
PreferenceBrowser, Nebraska, CollectionsTests, GraphicsTests,
KernelTests, MorphicTests, MultilingualTests, NetworkTests, ToolsTests,
TraitsTests, XML-Parser, Traits, SystemChangeNotification-Tests,
FlexibleVocabularies, EToys, Protocols, Tests, SUnitGUI. To unload all
of these, execute:

        Smalltalk unloadAllKnownPackages.

[------------------------- updated 01/02/10 ---------------------------]

NanoTraits
----------
A new traits implementation has been added. The implementation is
significantly smaller and simpler than the old version and can be
unloaded and reloaded without loss of information (i.e., traits
flattened during unload are restored during traits reloading). To unload
traits simply execute:
     Trait unloadTraits.
To restore traits load the traits package from the repository at
source.squeak.org.

TextDiffBuilder
---------------
A new algorithm for producing text diffs has been added. The algorithm
is smaller, faster, and provides better results compared to the previous
implementation.

Source / Changes Files
----------------------
Sources and changes files are no longer limited to 32MB max size.
ExpandedSourceFileArray provides an implementation for source files of
arbitrary length, based on the CompiledMethodTrailer changes.

CompiledMethodTrailer
---------------------
Handling compiled method trailers for storing source code has been
generalized. The new representation deals more explicitly with various
forms of encodings (source pointer, temps-only, etc) and has room for
future extensions (i.e., retrieval from other sources).

Future Messages
---------------
Support for the future/future: keywords has been added. Future messages
enable sending messaging at a later point in time. Timed futures allow
sending messages a specific number of miliseconds into the future,
futures without arguments are executed at the earliest convenience. For
example a message like:

MyMorph>>mouseDown: event
     self color: Color red.
     (self future: 1000) color: Color white.

will turn the given morph red and one second later back to white.

[------------------------- updated 12/12/09 ---------------------------]

Image Version
-------------
The new version scheme is now active. The image version number is the
sum of all package versions. A stub package "Squeak-Version" has been
added to define the "base" number for the version. This image is
designated as "Squeak3.11.alpha".

Morphic
-------
New window resizers better in tone with the general UI look. A new
UserDialogBoxMorph for simple modal inform/confirm dialogs.

Files
-----
StandardFilestream now performs read-buffering, dramatically speading up
some operations like "Object compileAll" (2x improvement) as well as
various other operations (scanning change lists etc).

Numbers
-------
Implementations for Float #predecessor, #successor etc. Update to the
compact class indexes of LargePositiveInteger and LargeNegativeInteger
for Cog. Additional tests for all of the new features.

Exceptions
----------
OutOfMemory has been added as a standard exception being signaled when
an allocation fails, replacing the previous signaling of the low space
semaphore. Improved #ensure: performance avoiding remote context
manipulation (via #tempAt:put:) in the default case.

SUnit
-----
Faster execution by speeding up some low level operations (like
allTestSelectors). Fixes for thumbnail creation which would leave open
morphs around after some tests.

Kernel
------
The default hash for all objects is now a scaled identity has to avoid
extreme degradations in speed when using large numbers of objects
without explicit hash implementation in Dictionary and Set.

Excellent, how do I package this up to load it into Cuis?

> Source / Changes Files
> ----------------------
> Sources and changes files are no longer limited to 32MB max size.  
> ExpandedSourceFileArray provides an implementation for source files  
> of arbitrary length, based on the CompiledMethodTrailer changes.

I really need this in my latest production image, how do I load it?

> Image Version
> -------------
> The new version scheme is now active. The image version number is  
> the sum of all package versions. A stub package "Squeak-Version" has  
> been added to define the "base" number for the version. This image  
> is designated as "Squeak3.11.alpha".

I am curious what does this acheive?

Is it just a form of unique id?

> Files
> -----
> StandardFilestream now performs read-buffering, dramatically  
> speading up some operations like "Object compileAll" (2x  
> improvement) as well as various other operations (scanning change  
> lists etc).

You might want to steal the generic stream to stream copy finction  
from Rio, Stream copyTo:

Keith