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Introduction and Overview to the
QKS®
Smalltalk-2000 dialect
and its support of the
Microsoft®
.NET Platform |
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David Simmons |
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Smalltalk Heritage |
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Quasar Knowledge Systems, Inc. “QKS” |
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Founded 1989… |
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Agents Object System™ “AOS®
Platform” |
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Object Repository and Multi-language Object
System Platform/Backplane for Servers and Distributing “Agents” objects |
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QKS Smalltalk “SmalltalkAgents® for
Mac” |
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Multimedia, graphics, MacOS extended features
emphasis |
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QKS activities and focus with Apple Corporate
meant we failed to properly address the real market changes, needs and
opportunities |
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Develop new language as a superset of QKS
Smalltalk which would fit the “popular” language development paradigms and
retain the ability to build systems like today’s rich Smalltalk IDE’s. |
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Enable Text based development w/XML source form |
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Transparent/linkable cross-language inter-op |
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Optional Typing System Unified with Smalltalk
Classes, Interfaces / mixins, Extensible Fast Type Marshalling, and
Multi-methods |
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Small injectable footprint for fast lightweight
“in-proc” execution based on a new streamlined generation of QKS’ AOS
Platform Technology |
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Enhance Functionality and Attractiveness for
Scripting |
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Enhance with declarative grammar and syntax
“sugar” extensions |
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Interface mixin behavior and COM/CORBA-like
services for free |
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Provide flexible annotation system for
extensions |
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Natural design for components as well as use for
integration of into existing application designs and application shells.
Including but not limited to the Explorer Namespace System, Internet
Explorer and Netscape, Visual Studio’s Shell, Linux KDE and/or Gnome, … |
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Small Projects ŕ Small Source Size ŕ Small
DLL/EXE/Package |
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Fast Startup/Shutdown InjectedDLL/EXE Load in
Milliseconds with no image required |
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Hi-performance Adaptive JIT Execution and FFI
Marshalling supporting x-platform ports |
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Easy transparent/automatic access to external
functions, COM/CORBA functionality |
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Automatic (no effort) support for exporting a
Smalltalk class/interface as a COM/CORBA/C++ item. |
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Modular package and loading system to build
components and applications by composition rather than traditional
Smalltalk IDE system of decomposition. Build on QKS Agent Packaging and
Distribution Technology |
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No compromise on Smalltalk’s Reflective EE Model
and Meta-object Services. Utilize Language Independent Architecture of QKS’
AOS VM’s Object (Model) System |
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Scalable GC supporting incremental collection,
pinning, C++ transparency, resizeable objects/structural morphing,
extensible object layouts, managed code integration with JIT, finalization,
arbitrary roots, efficient swizzling, static objects |
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Microsoft contacts QKS to discuss
something
named COM+ 2.0. Known today as MS.NET |
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What was it and how was it relevant to QKS? |
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Cross-language VM |
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VC++, VB, JScript, Cool (C#), … (no comment on
Java) |
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Multiple CPU and OS Targets including embedded
devices |
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Standard “Common” Object Model |
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Rich package-loader and metadata system |
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Security model |
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Replace COM of today and provide Internet and MS
Web Services distributed infrastructure based on XML/SOAP |
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A Cross Language Demo |
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C# inter-operates with Smalltalk under a common
language model and VM |
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A DLL/EXE packaging architecture with rich
metadata and security validation |
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Cross-language source level debugging |
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Integrated into Visual Studio.NET |
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Microsoft’s upcoming Web Services Design and
Development Center |
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QKS’ AOS Platform |
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“Agents Object System” |
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Microsoft’s .NET Platform |
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Sun Microsystems’ JVM? |
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AOS Platform
(Visual C++, Intel C++,
GCC) – probably integrated |
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X86 |
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Win32, (Linux, FreeBSD, BeOS – under
development) |
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Possibly PPC (prelimary prep done) |
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Mac OS-X, Linux |
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Interesting Others (incl embedded) |
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WinCE (various) |
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Sony Playstation (MIPS) |
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PalmOS |
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Solaris |
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.NET Platform |
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X86 |
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Win32 |
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Other (probably in future) |
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WinCE (various) |
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Embedded Devices |
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No Word From MS |
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Linux |
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Macintosh |
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PalmOS |
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Solaris |
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… |
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Unified Object Model |
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No image file required |
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Headless w/ minimal OS/CPU dependence deployable
as DLL |
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Extensible layered JIT and Compiler system (not
STS specific) |
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Multimethods, first class dynamic type and
interface mixin system |
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Rich meta-object services including read, write,
bind delegation and managed objects |
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Pluggable architecture for VM extension via C++
and/or AOS methods and functions |
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Intrinsic XML parser. Modular package loader,
linker, export system |
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Intrinsic Image / Class Library… |
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I18N/NLS Text Services |
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Numerics Processing System |
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Full featured compiler and reflection services … |
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Multi-threaded execution engine supporting
headless servers and embedding |
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Hi performance FFI and namespace scoped
multi-method dispatch, auto-vtables/COM, Selector Aliasing, … |
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All objects are logically viewed as having |
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Extensible set of properties |
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Resizeable number of (by-ref) Named slots |
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Resizeable number of (by-ref) Indexed slots |
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Resizeable amount of byte-storage w/(by-value)
typed structure variables |
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Resizeable number of (by-value) Unicode
Character elements |
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Class system built on top of Instance specific
behavior system |
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Byte storage can be of any form including C++
objects, native heap, virtual, etc. It can also be indirected. Logically it
is just a structured memory access. |
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Objects are fully resizeable and restructureable
and the VM is optimized for heavy use of this feature to efficiently manage
collections and streams |
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Weak references, initialization, finalization
and full external lifecycle management are intrinsically supported |
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10000 factorial |
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Changing the main entry point startup sequence |
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Changing the compiler’s command line processor |
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SmalltalkAgents v3 is temporary host for
building v4 |
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Used v3 Toolset and repository for
auto-generating many parts of the v4 virtual machine |
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Repository and VM Integrated DB |
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Built core system classes and methods |
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Generates v4 C++ Object Model Sources |
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Look at C++ method declarations
NAKED
Object[#basicBehavior] |
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Emit v4 fast load modules with v3 stack based
opcodes |
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v4 extensible JIT system provides a v3 to v4
opcode compiler |
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v4 opcodes are virtual register based with
load/store services designed specifically for optimal jitting functionality |
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XML Compiler |
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XML Parse Tree (from XML Blob) |
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AOS Object Model: Dynamic Class and Type System (Used
by SmallScript) |
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SmallScript Methods (other languages possible w/
appropriate compiler module) |
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SmallScript Method/Function Compiler(s) |
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SmallScript Parse Tree (from method source) |
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AOS Platform Opcode Set & Object Model |
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JIT to x86 |
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JIT to .NET |
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JIT to Textual Dissassembler |
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Temporary: JIT from AOS v3 stack model to AOS v4
register model |
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Microsoft .NET Platform IL & Object Model |
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w/QKS Dynamic Language RTL Extension |
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A Cross Language Subclassing Demo |
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C# subclasses (extends) a SmallScript class |
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C# directly reads and writes STS classes slots |
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ILDAsm used to look at DLL produced by STS
compiler |
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Reflection and QKS Dynamic Language Work enables
Smalltalk to extend the behavior of sealed .NET classes |
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Could have been done or could be further refined
by
Visual Basic, C++, COBOL, etc. |
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Define a new language to unify QKS Smalltalk
features and extensions developed over the years |
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Add syntactic sugar for familiar procedural and
functional programming constructs |
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Provide Formal language support for namespaces,
packaging/distribution and declaring design intent |
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Extend Smalltalk to be the richest adaptive
language supporting a familiar and very linguistically competitive feature
set |
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Provide dynamic behavioral type and dispatch
system and related compositional benefits of interface mixin |
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Enable development of fast, small software
elements |
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Enable transparent integration of Smalltalk with
other languages |
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When will you be able to try the tools you’ve
seen today? |
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When will the v4 system be fully bootstrapped
(weaned/separated) from the v3 system? |
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Time Check… |
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What’s different about the SmallScript language
compared to Smalltalk as we’ve known it over the years? |
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The XML syntax used is designed not to be
exclusive to SmallScript |
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It can be extended for other language compilers |
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It represents the declarative essence of the AOS
Object Model |
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Method declarations can be in any language |
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Source within method bodies is distinct from the
XML |
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Currently supports SmallScript and C++ |
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Scheme is being explored |
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<assembly > |
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<module> |
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<interface> |
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<class> |
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<using/> |
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<include/> |
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<remove/> |
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<?SmallScript …?> |
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<?function … [ … ]?> |
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<?method … [ … ]?> |
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<?class-method … [ … ]?> |
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<?eval … [ … ]?> |
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name |
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version |
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id |
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mcid |
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inst-vars
/ by-ref-fields |
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class-vars
/ by-ref-class-fields |
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shared-vars |
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struct-vars
/ by-value-fields |
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implements |
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extends |
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imports |
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namespace / scope |
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module |
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dll / extern-lib |
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authors |
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lang |
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… |
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An assembly is a project/solution |
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Results in something like an InstallShield
Package |
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Supports versioning and other elements to
support the challenges of software deployment today |
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A module is an atomic unit of packaging for
deployment and is thus a unit of ownership |
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Can result in discrete shared libraries (DLL’s) |
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May also be aggregated with other modules by an
assembly to create a single executable/shared-library. |
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Selector (namespace) Scope |
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Implicit scopes |
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Class and DLL/SharedLibrary Functions |
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Private behavior |
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Receiver behavior |
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Including Mixins of Implemented Interfaces |
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Argument types (multi-methods) |
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Return type |
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Behavioral Type System |
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Multi-methods |
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Transparent FFI |
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Transparent COM (and C++ vftable) behavior and
integration |
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Mixin Behavior (Interfaces) |
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Multiple Inheritance |
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Namespace Scoped Binding |
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SmallScript Functions (not just methods) |
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Method or Function callout or callback support
for automatic or custom argument marshalling |
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JIT inlines “thisContext” messages for fast
custom marshalling raw data args via <type> system. |
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The custom marshalling form:
[…marshall…] onCallback. |
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Return values are marshalled automatically (as
appropriate) |
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Types of Shared (namespace/pool) Variables |
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Standard Variable (think Association) |
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One shot initialization sets read-only property
for primary variables like classes, functions, etc. |
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Imported Variables via Aliasing Indirection |
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Thread Local Variables |
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User extensible – variable types can leverage
bind and access notification services |
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Why not just use Associations? |
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Support module system for fast load/link/unload |
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Intrinsic support for refactoring given modules |
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Apply-Value Message |
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(…) |
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anExpr() “alt-selector ŕ anExpr
value” |
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anExpr(a) “alt-selector ŕ anExpr
value: a” |
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anExpr(a,b) |
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Array-Slice Message |
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[…] or […:…] or […](…) or […]() |
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foo[x] := y. |
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aString[a:b] := c. |
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Array-Property Message |
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{…} or {…,…} or {…}(…) or {…}() |
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Annotation Op
<…> |
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Reg Expr Op
#`…' |
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Environment Variable Op
#$ciname |
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Fn/Mth and Signature Op
#::… |
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Path Expr Op
#{…} |
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Binary Assignment Op
:binarySelector= |
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Styled String (incl XML)
`…' |
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Wide Strings via
L`…' W`…' L '…' W'…' |
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Array/slice Op
[…] |
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Property Op
{…} |
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Apply/Value/Function Op
(…) |
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Dot Path Expressions
A.B.C (or) {A.B.guid} |
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Reserved Op
#[…] |
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EOL Comment
"" |
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Nested Comment
"*…*" |
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String and Comment Escapes
`n `r `[…`] `x…
`< xml/html >, etc. |
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Branch Label
<:label:> |
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Metadata Tag
<'…'> |
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Alternate Selector
<::selector> |
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Processing Directive
<$dir…>
$scope, $interface,
$final,
$sealed,
$vftable=,
$routing-method,
… |
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Position Independent Named Arguments
<%keyword-arg-name%> |
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Type Annotation
<ref/in/out {…}.name
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Semi-colon delimited ; |
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Equivalent Forms of Annotation
Declarations
<…><…>
<…; …> |
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for loop expressions |
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for (each <type> var in e) |
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for (setup. loop cond. update) |
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if, unless, else expressions |
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assert:level (expr) else (expr)
per-thread or vm jit exec control |
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while, until loop expressions |
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? : expressions |
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switch () […]
Cases can be combined
[case foo: … case bar: … break.] |
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try […] …
catch {a,[block-filter],value} […], fault/ifCurtailed, finally |
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Control Flow |
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<:label:> annotation |
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continue |
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break, break <:label:>, break (ret-expr),
break <:label:>(ret-expr). Alternately use “leave” |
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goto |
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redo |
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Return forms (from, to home) |
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^, return, ^^, leave |
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Tail call annotation |
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Default is up to platform |
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Explicitly one can declare |
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tail:return expr/tail:^ |
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notail:return /notail:^ |
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Characters |
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Numbers |
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Float, ScaledDecimal, Multi-precision
LargeIntegers |
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Strings & StyledStrings |
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Implicit concatenation to add flexibility for
string declarations
'…' '…' |
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Array’s |
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Selectors |
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Namespace Scoped Symbols |
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Additional message and functional forms |
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Signatures |
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Message Selectors with Type Descriptors |
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##Const |
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Regular Expressions |
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Environment Variables |
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Path Expressions |
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self / this |
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super |
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nil |
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false / no / off |
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true / yes / on |
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thread |
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thisContext |
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thisMethod |
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canvas |
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Convenience forms for skipping “routing” and
“dispatching” methods |
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sender |
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senderMethod |
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senderContext |
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<in/out> value-holder arguments and
variables |
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Return types |
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Scoping |
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Variable declarations |
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Functions |
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Operators |
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Keyword Expressions |
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Notes