One of the things people should bear in mind is where XP was invented - Smalltalk (and VisualWorks, part of Cincom Smalltalk, in particular). It still works best in Smalltalk. Why?
Immediate feedback. You can create the tests initially without having the actual code written yet (as the tenets call for) - Smalltalk allows for that
You can test early and often. Why? because Smalltalk allows for testing of partially written systems, something statically typed systems generally can't do. And before you say 'VisualAge Java', recall that IBM are busy re-doing that in Java - and removing the dynamic features as a result
to download it. You should also know that the people who invented XP (Kent Beck, Ron Jeffries, et. al.) did so in VisualWorks. It was born there - it's best there.
If you want to see the Original XP project and how it came about, follow this link. It's got tons of information on the beginnings of XP - and points out the Smalltalk origins. So if you want to do XP with the best results, do it with the best tools.
Hmm - First, Smalltalk is hardly dead. Cincom now owns the VisualWorks implementation (from ParcPlace) as well as the ObjectStudio implementation (originally from Easel). Our sales last year were very strong, and we are exceeding them this year. You can try Cincom Smalltalk out free:
http://www.cincom.com/smalltalk
And two things:
1) VisualWorks was cross platform and binary portable long, long before Java was even pondered (it's been that way since the late 80's). We were there long, long before Java got there.
2) The site above is implemented in VisualWorks; we actually eat our own dog food.
James Robertson
Product Manager, Cincom Smalltalk
jarober@mail.com
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One of the things people should bear in mind is where XP was invented - Smalltalk (and VisualWorks, part of Cincom Smalltalk, in particular). It still works best in Smalltalk. Why?
Immediate feedback. You can create the tests initially without having the actual code written yet (as the tenets call for) - Smalltalk allows for that
You can test early and often. Why? because Smalltalk allows for testing of partially written systems, something statically typed systems generally can't do. And before you say 'VisualAge Java', recall that IBM are busy re-doing that in Java - and removing the dynamic features as a result
If you want to try it out, try Cincom Smalltalk:
Cincom Smalltalk Home Page
Cincom Smalltalk Download Page
to download it. You should also know that the people who invented XP (Kent Beck, Ron Jeffries, et. al.) did so in VisualWorks. It was born there - it's best there.
If you want to see the Original XP project and how it came about, follow this link. It's got tons of information on the beginnings of XP - and points out the Smalltalk origins. So if you want to do XP with the best results, do it with the best tools.
Hmm - First, Smalltalk is hardly dead. Cincom now owns the VisualWorks implementation (from ParcPlace) as well as the ObjectStudio implementation (originally from Easel). Our sales last year were very strong, and we are exceeding them this year. You can try Cincom Smalltalk out free: http://www.cincom.com/smalltalk And two things: 1) VisualWorks was cross platform and binary portable long, long before Java was even pondered (it's been that way since the late 80's). We were there long, long before Java got there. 2) The site above is implemented in VisualWorks; we actually eat our own dog food. James Robertson Product Manager, Cincom Smalltalk jarober@mail.com