Hi Michael!
Michael van der Gulik mikevdg@hetnet.nl wrote: [SNIP]
Basically what I want to do is make a distributed, multi-user Squeak "image" (although it wouldn't really be an image anymore). So instead of starting up Squeak locally, you'd start up a "client" and log into a network of Squeak servers on the Internet. Objects could be migratable, remotely invocable or replicated, depending on the implementation of each distributed object. The advantages should be obvious - collaborative development for one. SqueakMap wouldn't be needed because everybody is using the same "image" concurrently. I'll quietly not mention the disadvantages :-).
I think it can be done. It's just difficult, not impossible.
If anybody knows of any related existing systems or technology not mentioned on dpon.sourceforge.net, I'd like to know. Also, feedback on
Well, if I were you I would do two things:
1. Take a hard look at Magma. 2. Talk with Stephen Pair and Craig Latta.
Magma is a GemStone kindof OODB for Squeak and does give multiple running Squeaks a common transactional object memory. It doesn't have support AFAIK for changing the "locus" (location of execution I believe it means) by using remote message sends but there are a bunch of Squeak frameworks for that.
Stephen is also building stuff in this vein and has demonstrated "remote object memories" at OOPSLA etc. He has also done modifications to the VM to better facilitate these systems (like dirty marking etc). And a bunch of other stuff too. :-)
And Craig has just recently looked through all the "remote message send"-frameworks in Squeak in his Squat project so he should be able to give you a quick rundown on what is available and how they relate to his own new networking framework he promptly decided to build. :-)
whether this is actually a sane idea is greatly appreciated before I waste 6 months of my life :-).
Well, please do look carefully at the stuff that is out there before duplicating work. But I think that combining some form of "remote message sending" with Magma would get you very far. Or perhaps something using Stephen's work.
Michael.
regards, Göran