Comments, with reply, on ´the experience of learning and using Smalltalk´ by J. Nielsen and J.T. Richards

The commenter maintains that most novice Smalltalk programmers have different experiences from those described by the authors of the abovementioned article (ibid., vol.6, no.5, p.73-7, May 1989). She points out that they tried to learn a new programming language, programming environment, design methodology, and window system through unguided exploration. She then examines a number of the authors´ points in this context, arguing that many of their objections seem to stem from their fundamental misunderstanding of the system´s tools. The authors reply that the commenter speaks from the perspective of someone skilled in Smalltalk, and they present counterarguments to a number of her points.<>