Route for learning Smalltalk aka Squeak

Question

Calling Jedi Masters of the Smalltalk universe,

I have knowledge of C++/Python/Perl and have been coding for 5+ years now.

I have to fork Scratch - MIT's Visual programming language to add support for a robotic kit. Scratch is created using Squeak, which is an implementation of Smalltalk.

I am planning to read A Little Smalltalk - By Timothy budd followed by Sqeak By Examples - By Oscar Nierstrasz [http://squeakbyexample.org/]

Do you think this is a good idea ?. What would you suggest ?. Are there free video tutorials I can watch.

End objective is to be able to make sense of scratch codebase. I want to get hang of smalltalk once before I can make sense of the (as of now) weird looking Squeak development environment and its ways.

Luke Smallwalker

Answer 1

Actually, I work with the core developers of Scratch for Arduino! It may be a good start for you to take a look at its code.

I think A Little Smalltalk goes a bit too deep for what you'll need. Squeak by example is, IMO, much better suited as an entry point to the language.

Also, you may want to take a look at Prof Stef for Amber, which is not an intro to Squeak but to Amber Smalltalk. Anyway the syntax is pretty much the same and it will get you a first good idea of what Smalltalk feels like.

HIH, good luck!

[edit] Yesterday I stumbled upon this great article explaining how to read Smalltalk code for Java/C++ developers.

Answer 2

check out my youtube tutorial series Squeak from the very start

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6601A198DF14788D&feature=viewall