Yes exactly

Post #110,864 by bluke 7/22/03 10:29:29 AM 7/22/03 10:31:22 AM Reply	Yes exactly It is clear that the VM is not going to actually send a message for a := 5 + 3. the performance would be horrible. The VM cheats where appropriate and hopefully the developer doesn't notice a difference (which is why Smalltalk can present everything as an object including so called primitive types like integers, etc., and still offer good performance, the VM knows that 5 is an integer and therefore treats it differently in most cases). The various Smalltalk VM's are very good at this (in fact the whole Hotspot compiler idea came from a Smalltalk implementation). Edited by bluke July 22, 2003, 10:31:22 AM EDT Yes exactly It is clear that the VM is not going to actually send a message for a := 5 + 3. the performance would be horrible. The VM cheats where appropriate and hopefully the developer doesn't notice a difference The various Smalltalk VM's are very good at this (in fact the whole Hotspot compiler idea came from a Smalltalk implementation). Collapse All History
Post #111,003 by Ashton 7/22/03 9:19:49 PM Reply	Hmmm sounds as if Smalltalk's efficacy relies critically upon a very ~~Smart~~ Wise compiler. One wonders how wisdom + Boolean ever once came to be comingled. And if such stellar virtuosity could ever again occur. From the gossip read over years - I gather that this was a Fluke, given the variety of C-class and other successors' non-Wisdom.. so frequently dissected and railed about. OK.. never mind. No credentials here. Ashton
Post #111,008 by tuberculosis 7/22/03 9:49:03 PM 8/21/07 5:51:46 AM Reply	Not so clever There is a table of a few selectors that are handled specially by the compiler. You can change the table and recompile everything in the system. Of course, only the VM/compiler tweakers do this. But the language itself is dead simple. For those interested in the original book detailing how it all works: [link\|http://users.ipa.net/~dwighth/smalltalk/bluebook/bluebook_imp_toc.html\|http://users.ipa.net...book_imp_toc.html] Smalltalk is dangerous. It is a drug. My advice to you would be don't try it; it could ruin your life. Once you take the time to learn it (to REALLY learn it) you will see that there is nothing out there (yet) to touch it. Of course, like all drugs, how dangerous it is depends on your character. It may be that once you've got to this stage you'll find it difficult (if not impossible) to "go back" to other languages and, if you are forced to, you might become an embittered character constantly muttering ascerbic comments under your breath. Who knows, you may even have to quit the software industry altogether because nothing else lives up to your new expectations. --AndyBower Edited by tuberculosis Aug. 21, 2007, 05:51:46 AM EDT Expand All History

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