Smalltalk-76 running on the vintage Xerox Alto demonstrates revolutionary programming concepts including live system modification, object-oriented programming, and the first desktop GUI. The system allows developers to view, edit, and recompile code while the system continues running, enabling real-time changes to interface elements like scrollbars. Smalltalk introduced fundamental GUI concepts like overlapping windows, popup menus, and the desktop metaphor that influenced modern computing, particularly inspiring Steve Jobs' development of the Lisa and Macintosh interfaces.
Table of contents
The desktopDynamically changing the running systemA closer look at some Smalltalk codeConclusionSort: