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Session
The Object Finder
The Finder for Mac OS X is so simple to use with its chain of panels !
An object can be seen like a repository having some files (literals) and some repositories. So, why don't have the same system for an inspector of objects ?
It's from this idea the Object Finder is born. It is implemented in Squeak.
Let's go !
Click here to see Object Finder on action
This window is the result of the execution of the following instruction :
Smalltalk allClasses inspect
The collection is showed in the first pane. The user selected the sixth element, containing a class, inspected in the second pane. After, the user selected the methodDict field of the class. Its contents are inspected in the third panel.
A view on the last selected element is always displayed in the bottom panel.
Extensibility
This new object inspector for Squeak is based on OmniBrowser. This tool permits to explore easy an object and its linked objects (and their linked objects and ...) but it is overall extensible. Create a subclass OFObjectNode, add a method #asNodeWithName: and you have a personal inspector for your project !
Architecture :
More information on the extensibility will come as soon as possible here.
Enabling/Disabling
A simple option in the Preference panel permits to enable/disable the replacement of the old inspector by this new one.
Installation
In Squeak, open the Packages Universe Browser, go to the category "Development" and select the last version of the package "ObjectFinder".
This tool is also downloadable from SqueakSource under the name "Object Finder".
Have fun !
All questions and remarks : fpluquet@ulb.xxx.ac.be (delete the .xxx part)