One of the biggest advantages, I thought, was the Smalltalk programming environment. Obliterating the notion of dealing with files, and interacting directly with definitions and objects. If I use the same tools today, but just with a different language, what benefit am I getting?
On a side note, I actually have been working on something like the smalltalk environment for another popular language. I'd love to know more about how Redline deals with images (if at all) -- that is, does it snapshot memory and dump it to a file like the original smalltalk? Or is this a JVM compiler for the smalltalk language?
It is a compiler right now. It is file based like GNU Smalltalk. We are still working out how to bring in image based development (as an option, not a requirement).
We are working on integrating with existing tools but having the resumable exceptions that you get a 'standard' smalltalk environment. The ability to poke and prod the objects, inspect them, change them etc. The basis for it all is there, now it is about exposing it first through existing tools like eclipse and intellij and hopefully, eventually, other tools as well.
This could lead to a rather long conversation for which HN isn't the best platform, feel free to email the mailing list or me directly if you want to discuss more in depth.
On a side note, I actually have been working on something like the smalltalk environment for another popular language. I'd love to know more about how Redline deals with images (if at all) -- that is, does it snapshot memory and dump it to a file like the original smalltalk? Or is this a JVM compiler for the smalltalk language?