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I read most of the website, and I still have no idea what this is? Is this a Smalltalk IDE? Some kind of static analysis software?

chiefalchemist 4y ago
You're not alone. I ended up on their YouTube channel thinking a demo / tutorial might clear things up. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtD-xD0Eo3c https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtD-xD0Eo3c
Fellshard 4y ago
It's a suite of extensions of the Pharo Smalltalk environment that are tailored for modeling behaviour and data in multiple ways, such that you can build your own toolkit for your own problem domain.
tudorgirba 4y ago
Very interesting question, and one that we are struggling to address :). It's those and more. It's also a programmable knowledge management system. It comes with playground snippets and debuggers for several languages, like JS and Python. More recently it is also a distributed Smalltalk that can be debugged remotely. It comes with a graphical stack that unifies editors with visualizations. All these in a single uniform (and not too large) environment that shows that programming, knowledge management, API management and data science can all be served in a single uniform environment. These are just the large pieces. Yet the goal is to empower people to create their custom system-specific experiences. Actually, we go as far as to create object-specific experiences. The goal is to help people make the inside of their systems explainable through the practice of Moldable Development.
- beachy 4y ago
  It's such a challenging problem developing the elevator pitch. For what it's worth (which is likely very little) the main takeaway I get from the above (in true HN style, without having read the article) is the call-out to knowledge management. Perhaps because the other bits sound like cool tech you must have built in order to pursue other goals. Who wouldn't want a distributed engine you can debug remotely! I suppose I have some sales hat on. Who could I sell what to?
khinsen 4y ago
I doubt there is a single good answer to that question. I'd call it a workbench for software and knowledge management, but I am well aware that this doesn't mean much for people who have never used a workbench for software and knowledge management. A more pragmatic answer: - If a Smalltalk IDE is what you are looking for, give it a try. Right now. You won't regret it. - If static analysis of large code bases is what you are looking for, explore the current level of support for your language (best done by asking a question on Discord), and if it's good enough, give it a try. Otherwise, check again later. - If you are interested in new approaches to software and knowledge management, give it a try, right now, but be prepared to invest some time before you "get it".

chiefalchemist 4y ago

You're not alone. I ended up on their YouTube channel thinking a demo / tutorial might clear things up. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtD-xD0Eo3c https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtD-xD0Eo3c

Fellshard 4y ago

It's a suite of extensions of the Pharo Smalltalk environment that are tailored for modeling behaviour and data in multiple ways, such that you can build your own toolkit for your own problem domain.

tudorgirba 4y ago

Very interesting question, and one that we are struggling to address :). It's those and more. It's also a programmable knowledge management system. It comes with playground snippets and debuggers for several languages, like JS and Python. More recently it is also a distributed Smalltalk that can be debugged remotely. It comes with a graphical stack that unifies editors with visualizations. All these in a single uniform (and not too large) environment that shows that programming, knowledge management, API management and data science can all be served in a single uniform environment. These are just the large pieces. Yet the goal is to empower people to create their custom system-specific experiences. Actually, we go as far as to create object-specific experiences. The goal is to help people make the inside of their systems explainable through the practice of Moldable Development.

beachy 4y ago
It's such a challenging problem developing the elevator pitch. For what it's worth (which is likely very little) the main takeaway I get from the above (in true HN style, without having read the article) is the call-out to knowledge management. Perhaps because the other bits sound like cool tech you must have built in order to pursue other goals. Who wouldn't want a distributed engine you can debug remotely! I suppose I have some sales hat on. Who could I sell what to?

khinsen 4y ago

I doubt there is a single good answer to that question. I'd call it a workbench for software and knowledge management, but I am well aware that this doesn't mean much for people who have never used a workbench for software and knowledge management. A more pragmatic answer: - If a Smalltalk IDE is what you are looking for, give it a try. Right now. You won't regret it. - If static analysis of large code bases is what you are looking for, explore the current level of support for your language (best done by asking a question on Discord), and if it's good enough, give it a try. Otherwise, check again later. - If you are interested in new approaches to software and knowledge management, give it a try, right now, but be prepared to invest some time before you "get it".