Envy (Smaltalk versioning system for objects) cost an arm and a leg, I was fortunate enough to have a license - it was a fantastic system and the missing key bi

Envy (Smaltalk versioning system for objects) cost an arm and a leg, I was fortunate enough to have a license - it was a fantastic system and the missing key bit to use Smalltalk for serious applications in larger teams and not just for prototyping. Key reasons why Smalltalk lost so quickly: IBM buying and redirecting OTI to Java yielding eventually Eclipse at the same time boosted Java and pulled the rug from under Smalltalk. IBM starting to hire Smalltalk programmers from universities and redirecting them to Java. IBM providing networking stack parts to Java to interoperate in the banking industry. It all happened over a relatively short period of time. Java was not just cheaper but thanks to IBM the tooling and networking - still way behind the combo of Smalltalk/Envy - was starting to be good enough.