[Pkg-sugar-devel] Fwd: ITP: opensmalltalk-vm -- High performance virtual machine for Smalltalk

[Phil Bellalouna]

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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Phil Bellalouna <phil.bellalouna at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 15, 2021 at 12:32 PM
Subject: ITP: opensmalltalk-vm -- High performance virtual machine for
Smalltalk
To: Debian Bug Tracking System <submit at bugs.debian.org>


Package: wnpp
Severity: wishlist
Owner: Phil Bellalouna <phil.bellalouna at gmail.com>
X-Debbugs-Cc: debian-devel at lists.debian.org,
pkg-sugar-devel at lists.alioth.debian.org

* Package name    : opensmalltalk-vm
  Version         : 1.0
  Upstream Author : squeak.org
* URL             : https://github.com/OpenSmalltalk/opensmalltalk-vm
* License         : MIT
  Programming Lang: Smalltalk, C
  Description     : High performance virtual machine for Smalltalk

(this is part of the Squeak project https://squeak.org)

Squeak is a full-featured implementation of the Smalltalk programming
language and environment based on (and largely compatible with)
the original Smalltalk-80 system.

This package contains just the Unix Squeak opensmalltalk virtual machine, a
modern implementation with significantly enhanced performance.  You will
likely need also an image file containing a "snapshot" of a live Squeak
session - e.g. from the Squeak, Pharo or Cuis projects.

----------------------------------

This package is needed to provide Debian with a modern, high performance
implementation of the Squeak VM.  Recent Smalltalk images provided by
Squeak and related dialects require this VM in order to run. A few key
points:
- It complements the existing squeak-vm package[1].
- One of the key differences between the implementations is that squeak-vm
is a pure bytecode interpreter while opensmalltalk-vm includes a high
performance JIT implementation for x86 and ARM.
- There are some shared resources between opensmalltalk-vm and squeak-vm.
As a result, at least two supporting packages (a common package and a
metapackage) are also proposed.
- We are prepared to upstream at least the majority of changes needed to
satisfy Debian packaging requirements.

I am a long-time Smalltalk developer and have been working with the Squeak
project to produce at least the initial package for this VM.  The Squeak
project is open to whatever arrangement Debian maintainers feel is
appropriate (i.e. it's unclear at this time if the Sugar team would be
interested in taking on maintenance of the package, if I would continue to
do so etc... this is open for discussion) for the ongoing maintenance of
the package(s).

I am looking for a sponsor.  Obviously, I need someone to help me get the
package uploaded.  I could also use some packaging advice, given the
non-trivial nature of this package.  I am a long-term Debian user and
believe we are addressing the key issues related to Debian packaging, but
would appreciate another set of eyes to confirm.

[1] squeak-vm is the 'classic' VM, whose code is also maintained by the
Squeak project.  It is still required by legacy applications such as
Scratch and Etoys, so the plan is for both VMs to co-exist.
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