Overview

Squeak is a modern, open source, cross-platform, fast and full-featured implementation of the powerful Smalltalk programming language and environment.

The Squeak Smalltalk system requires three files to operate correctly:

• an image file containing a snapshot of a live Squeak session
• a changes file containing the source code for modified methods in the image
• and a copy of (or a link to) a shared system sources file containing the source code for methods that have not been modified since the last major version increment.

The image and changes cross-platform binary files contain the state of a user's Squeak session, which is persistent between sessions. Private copies of these files are therefore normally required. You can download the initial image/changes files from

• ftp.squeak.org e.g. 3.9 image and changes files directory

Or, if you prefer a smaller image specialized to run Seaside web-development framework

• A smaller Seaside2.6.zip image

Because the target devices normally do not have a graphical display, the optware squeak package does not build X11 display driver in the VM at all. You can prepare an image for server applications on your Mac or PC and run it headlessly on the slug, or prepare an image with the RemoteFrameBuffer (VNC) server running so you can connect to the nice and unique Smalltalk GUI.

HowTo

• Of course you'll need to install squeak package

sudo ipkg update
sudo ipkg install squeak
mkdir ~/squeak
cd ~/squeak
ln -s /opt/lib/squeak/SqueakV3.sources .

• Download and configure an image on your Mac or PC
• (optional but highly recommended) setup RemoteFrameBuffer in the image on your Mac or PC.

• Transfer the image/changes files to slug ~/squeak/
• Launch squeak on the slug

cd ~/squeak
squeak -nodisplay -nosound your-image-name.image &

• With a VNC client, connect to your-slug-address:n
• Have fun! Enjoy the nice GUI/IDE running on the slug.
• If you're using the Seaside image, you'll also be able to connect to http://your-slug-address:8080/seaside/config to manage the deployed web applications.

Reference

• Building Squeak for the gumstix
• Run RFBServer (VNC) in Squeak
• A Walk on the Seaside Tutorial

Up and Running

Let other people know you've been successfully squeaking on slug or other optware devices:

• BrianZhou on a TurboSlug