abbott@aerospace.aero.org (Russell J. Abbott) (09/06/89)
The project for which we are using st80 has as its goal the development of a system for organizing and accessing information resources, (e.g. tools, databases, models, documents, etc.) in a system/network large enough so that no one knows it completely. We selected st80 because (a) it seemed that the problem is best approached from an object-oriented perspective and (b) st80 provides a head start in developing user interfaces. We are now finding that the problem of finding one's way around in st80 itself is quite a problem. I guess it is commonplace to say that the major difficulty facing st80 programmers is learning the library. For example, I wanted to find a way to parse an input string. Even though I was able to find the compiler tools category, I have not yet figured out what I should call and how to call it so that I can pass it a string of characters and get back a parse tree. Consequently, we have tentatively decided to take st80 itself as a test case and build a system to help one find one's way around. As a starter, for example, I envision a global index of terms, each of which is associated with a hypertext-like entry from which links connect to the various uses of the term: as a method name, as a class name, as used in comments, etc. We also plan to build some sort of structuring capability to help with the problem discussed in the previous message. Has anyone built anything along these lines already? Does anyone have a wishlist of organizational features they have always wanted in their st80 systems? As a first step, we are building a set of classes to implement relational algebra operations. Has anyone already done this? If so, do you have code that you are willing to share? -- -- Russ abbott@itro3.aero.org
tce@ann.UUCP (Thomas C. Evans) (09/07/89)
It is a large library, and there is little like the 'data sheet' that might
come with an IC to help out. Using the various special browsers such as
protocol and hierarchy browsers help. Also look for class comments, the
'explain' function and browse all examples.
In terms of your larger issues much of what your looking for may be in the
Xerrox Analyst product, and all of the source is available for reuse.
One more lead, OOPSLA 88 has some nice papers from the Carleton University
as well as others on things like configuration management.
good luck - tom
--
Thomas C. Evans tce@ann.MN.ORG self is like insanity,
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