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[jl8] Index Page

The jl8 platform

We are runing S8 Smalltalk systems on Julia execution runtimes.
Status: Open 1.0 release (Apr 2022)
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License terms: the same as all S8 contents, MIT licensed


Test program

Anyone can join us for testing and start moving your objects to run on space executed by Julia execution machinery
The suggested channel of communication is our Facebook Group and using email or FB messenger.

Executing jl8 platform

We have many alternatives to run jl8 systems, basically we need a Julia execution runtime to load a S8 snapshot file. We load the snapshot and the S8 system start running as usual.
The snapshot can be built in console mode (same as we do for most S8 platforms) to be embedded in the hosting execution environment.

Steps to start working on [jl8] platform (console mode):
  1. ensure you have Julia execution machinery installed and running OK
  2. download the jl8.zip file from U8 service
  3. decompress the file in a new folder
  4. execute the jl8.jl file to start a clean image
    julia -i jl8.jl
  5. evaluate julia commands using smalltalk global variable to access your objects
  6. Sample expressions
  7. Running Tests
  8. Running frameworks and S8 wrappers


Uploaded Image: idea.gifIf you want to run a snapshot file execute
julia -i s8.snapshot.jl

Where are we running jl8 ?

We have tested that the S8 system in the following execution environments, without changes:
OS, Runtime contextJulia version
MacOS
Monterrey (12.3.1)
1.7.2; Feb 6,2022
Windows 10
64 bits
1.7.2; Feb 6,2022
Raspberry Pi
Raspbian 8.0
-ToDo-

It has been tested running the default system image with:
The tests includes:

Well known bugs and issues

If you observed an issue or bug, please report it here or in our facebook group



What is included in jl8?

The complete S8 kernel. It is the SAME system that is running and used in all platforms where S8 smalltalk is running. The initial snapshot was produced Exporting the system using an instance of JuliaEncoder (browse Exporter and NativeEncoder hierarchy to learn more on how to jump to another native language). After decompression the jl8.zip file see under "build" folder the source files to produce an image from an existing S8 system (running on other platform & native language).

The "build" folder contains the s8 kernel used to produce the initial snapshot (after loading the first snapshot on a julia VM, you can save the image/snapshot as usual).
The "library" folder has additional S8 frameworks and wrappers to standard julia libraries
The "s8/library" folder contain frameworks extending jl8 to support remote U8 toolset.

Advanced features of jl8 platform

Julia runtime has an aggressive optimizing compiler that takes a LOOOT of time to compile functions the first tim eit runs to machine code.
The first time each method is activated it takes a long time to run; but after compilation, the method run faster that other platforms.
This makes jl8 platform valuable for servers working on huge amounts of data, science, IA, image and math processing (read more on where Julia is used to find domains of application of S8 systems running jl8).

Looong time wait can be observed in two situations:
  1. Loading your snapshot/image/modules (julia loading)
  2. On first time activation (julia compilation)

To avoid long loading times, you can produce a Julia Package to let Julia reduce loading times using an internal cache.
Uploaded Image: idea.gifRead ServerApp/src/ReadMe.txt file to learn more on how to produce snapshot and precompile list for a package containing a S8 Sytem

Another way to reduce loading time is building a Julia SysImage for your system.

Running S8 in reactive Pluto workspaces

A Pluto notebook is made up of small blocks of Julia code (cells) and together they form a reactive notebook.
When you change a variable, Pluto automatically re-runs the cells that refer to it.
Cells can even be placed in arbitrary order.
You can embedd a snapshot in a workspace of include the snapshot from external file(s).
If your system is defined as a Julia Package, it can be loaded in the page with "using".
See examples under the folder "Pluto" of the platform files.

ToDo list

If you want to collaborate on this platform, you can peek a topic and discuss or get guidance to implement it.
Suggested topics in our ToDo list




Other references