Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!ctrsol!sdsu!pick
From: pick@sdsu.edu (Dan Pick)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.smalltalk
Subject: Re: Questions from a novice on development environments...
Message-ID: <1989Sep29.015336.6459@sdsu.edu>
Date: 29 Sep 89 01:53:36 GMT
References: <520002@hpsad.HP.COM>
Reply-To: pick@sdsu.UUCP (Dan Pick)
Organization: San Diego State University Math/Sciences Dept.
Lines: 36

In article <520002@hpsad.HP.COM> jsv@hpsad.HP.COM (Jeff Vetter) writes:
>
>  I am new to the Smalltalk language and I am interested in purchasing a
>Smalltalk development environment for my PC AT.  I have a few questions
>about the current offerings.
>
>	1. The current offerings seem to be Digitalk and ParcPlace;
>	   however, ParcPlace is quite expensive for learning's sake.  Are
>	   there student discounts on any products that I could check on at
>	   college?
>
>	2. Does anyone offer a Smalltalk "compiler" to develop
>	   stand-alone applications?
          
           As far as I know, no such compiler exists.  
>
>	3. Since this is my first attempt at object-oriented
>	   programming, which book(s) should I obtain?
>
>	4. Should I forget Smalltalk and try C++ instead?  There seems
>	   to be a little more support (ie. books and development
>	   environments) for C++.
>
It sounds to me like you're a programmer trying to produce production
code quickly.  If so, you'd be much better off learning C++. It's
best to approach Smalltalk as a research and learning environment
rather than as an applications development environment.

In other words, if you're trying to get code up and running quickly,
forget Smalltalk.  On the other hand, if you really want to learn
object-oriented programming, I highly recommend it.

-- 
Dan Pick                       |  USENET: pick@sdsu.ucsd.edu
Dept. of Mathematical Sciences |
San Diego State University     |