7: Mainline
Among the object-oriented programming languages, Smalltalk
has attractive characteristics, such as the following:
- Smalltalk is object-oriented from the ground up, in contrast to other
popular object-oriented languages, such as C++, which programmers
created by pasting a veneer onto a preexisting language.
- Smalltalk programming is done in powerful development
environments, which enable efficient program writing, editing, testing,
debugging, and maintenance. Smalltalk development environments
provide myriad built-in classes and methods.
- Smalltalk development environments encourage the development of
gorgeous graphical user interfaces, liberally decorated with fancy
graphical elements.