August 29, 2014

The terminology used for the open-source GemStone development project has used several terms in ways that do not strictly follow the appropriate definitions. For clarity, new terms will be introduced and the old terms will in the future, be used only according to the more specific defintions. During the transition, you may see existing terms still in use, and published material such as blog posts will also use the terms in the older senses.

Seaside

Seaside is an open-source web development framework. The port of this framework to GemStone/S was referred to as GemStone Seaside, and the term has been loosely used to refer to the squeak- and pharo-compatible environment in which Seaside could be loaded.

GLASS

GLASS stands for GemStone, Linux, Apache, Seaside, and Smalltalk, as a synergistic combination of technologies. However, while these components could be used together, the environment itself did not require Apache or Seaside, nor even Linux. It has also been used loosely to refer to the squeak- and pharo-compatible environment in which Seaside could be loaded.

Development Kit

The Open-Source Development Kit for GemStone/S 64 Bit is a open-source project, initiated by GemTalk staff but not itself a GemTalk product. The Development Kit provides the infrastructure to allow GemStone/S 64 Bit to be used with open-source code management, web development, and other Smalltalk technologies. The Development Kit provides a foundation into which Seaside and other frameworks can be loaded, and GLASS applications can be loaded.

This term replaces “seaside” and “glass” in many places in the existing product distribution and online information.