Cincom Smalltalk Digest: April Edition
Welcome to the April 2024 edition of the Cincom Smalltalk Digest. In this month’s newsletter, you will find the following:
CUSTOMERS and PARTNERS
- REMINDER: Cincom Smalltalk 9.4 Is Available!
- NEW CASES: Ways to Reach Cincom Smalltalk Support
BEGINNERS and DEVELOPERS
- A Look at Cincom’s Advancements in Commercial Smalltalk
- Amplifying Business Success through Engaging Customer and Partner Narratives
- Collaborate, Innovate, and Succeed: Inside the Cincom Smalltalk Partner Program
- Georg Heeg to Focus on Smalltalk Application Business
- Pragmas, Pragmas, and More Pragmas
CUSTOMERS and PARTNERS
REMINDER: Cincom Smalltalk 9.4 Is Available!
In case you missed it, Cincom Smalltalk 9.4 was released last month to our valued customers and partners. This release includes the major releases of Cincom® ObjectStudio® 9.4 and Cincom® VisualWorks® 9.4. You may order the newest release through our Customer Product Request Form.
- PLEASE NOTE: Our order process has been updated, and we no longer offer auto-ship.
- ALSO NOTE: Should you have any questions or problems accessing the request form above, please contact your Sales Account Manager or Cincom Smalltalk Support.
- Learn more about the Cincom Smalltalk 9.4.0 advancements here.
NEW CASES: Ways to Reach Cincom Smalltalk Support
If you need to submit a new case to Cincom Smalltalk Support, we’ve made it very quick and easy:
- VISIT: Cincom SupportWeb® for immediate support.
- EMAIL: HelpNA@cincom.com and EuroTSC@cincom.com to file new support cases.
- VIEW: Cincom Support Levels
- REVIEW: Cincom Smalltalk Resolutions Portal
When possible, please provide a test case. Test cases enable Cincom Smalltalk Support to better understand the issue by re-creating it in their environment.
- If you have any questions or comments, reach out to the Cincom Smalltalk Product Team at CSSTARTeam@cincom.com.
BEGINNERS and DEVELOPERS
A Look at Cincom’s Advancements in Commercial Smalltalk
From the software pioneers of Xerox PARC to the capable engineers of Cincom Systems, Inc., Smalltalk has revolutionized the field of modern programming. This influential object-oriented programming language has left a mark on the global tech industry, shaping the way developers write and structure their code.
With its emphasis on simplicity and readability, Smalltalk offers a unique approach to software development. It allows programmers to break down complex problems into manageable components, fostering collaboration and code reuse. This, in turn, increases efficiency and productivity, making Smalltalk a favorite among developers worldwide.
Smalltalk’s impact goes beyond the realm of programming. Its philosophy of “everything is an object” has influenced other programming languages through the years, shaping their syntax and principles. Smalltalk has also paved the way for modern development tools and frameworks, empowering developers to create robust and scalable applications.
For review:
- What happened to Smalltalk: Database Connectivity
- What happened to Smalltalk: User Experience and Interface
- What happened to Smalltalk: Modeling and Mapping
This month, we are looking at our relationship with partners. Although partner programs in its current form at Cincom were not present in the early days of Smalltalk, focusing on customer success was a big part of growth and early adoption.
Adele Goldberg said:
“What was really important was to make sure people were successful, and so you end up with maybe fewer customers but they were all amazing success stories.”
Amplifying Business Success through Engaging Customer and Partner Narratives
In today’s competitive market landscape, the significance of strategic marketing cannot be overstated. Recognizing this, the Cincom Smalltalk Marketing Team is dedicated to spotlighting the achievements and experiences of our customers and partners. Our Partner Promotion Program is a testament to our commitment to not only support but also elevate the brands within our network.
A Streamlined Process for Maximum Impact
Understanding the constraints of time and resources businesses often face, we’ve designed our process to be both efficient and effective:
- Initiating the Dialogue: The journey begins with a simple questionnaire. This step is crucial for us to gather insights into the unique aspects of our customers’ and partners’ offerings, including the who, what, how, why, and when.
- Crafting the Narrative: Armed with this information, our team sets out to weave a compelling story. This may involve further inquiries to truly capture the essence of the product or service, ensuring the narrative resonates with your intended audience.
- Spreading the Word: Upon approval, the story is ready for the spotlight. We leverage various platforms for this purpose:
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- A dedicated webpage under the “User Story” section on our website
- A downloadable PDF for easy sharing
- Promotion across our social media channels, alongside mentions in our videos, blog posts, email campaigns, and the monthly Cincom Smalltalk Digest
Why Engage with Us?
Cincom stands as a leading commercial provider of Smalltalk, boasting a customer and partner base that is unmatched in size. Our longevity in the industry, coupled with a diverse clientele from various market sectors, underscores our expertise and the trust placed in us by businesses worldwide.
The Essence of Our Approach
Marketing is more than just an operational necessity; it’s a strategic tool that, when used correctly, can unlock untold success. However, the path to effective marketing often presents challenges, from budget constraints to the daunting task of prospect engagement. This is where our Partner Promotion Program steps in, offering a lifeline to businesses that strive to make their mark.
Our initiative is not just about telling stories; it’s about creating a platform where success is shared, celebrated, and used as a beacon to attract further success. Whether you’re a long-standing partner or a recent addition to our community, your story is one worth telling.
Join Us in Celebrating Your Success
If you’re intrigued by the prospect of having your story told and amplified through our marketing channels, we invite you to reach out to the Cincom Smalltalk STAR Team at CSSTARTeam@cincom.com. If you are not a customer and are interested in this program, reach out and we will align you with an account executive to get started today. Let’s embark on this journey together, showcasing the power and flexibility of Cincom Smalltalk through your success.
Collaborate, Innovate, and Succeed: Inside the Cincom Smalltalk Partner Program
The Cincom Smalltalk Partner Program is designed to develop and maintain relationships with organizations and individuals who specialize in providing object-oriented solutions. The criterion for a member is based on:
- Ensuring that your technology, products, services, or applications complement the Cincom Smalltalk product line
- Having a shared and aligned vision with Cincom and Cincom Smalltalk
- Having an agreement to cross-link using our partner logo on your website that links to ours
As a member of the Partner Program, not only will you have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of Cincom Smalltalk, but also tap into the vast experience of your fellow members. Our partners are your partners! Your participation in this program gives you the advantage of offering extended expertise that covers the entire lifecycle, from analysis and design to development, testing, technology transition, implementation, training, project management, and maintenance. Cincom Smalltalk is committed to building relationships within the System Integrator, Developer, and Software Vendor communities. Our Partner Program gives you a cost-effective way to explore and incorporate technology for your business.
- To learn about the programs we offer partners, as well as a full list of benefits for joining the program, click here.
If you’re interested in collaborating together, expanding your reach, and building relationships within the Cincom Smalltalk community, we invite you to reach out to the Cincom Smalltalk STAR Team at CSSTARTeam@cincom.com.
Georg Heeg to Focus on Smalltalk Application Business
Georg Heeg founded his Smalltalk company, Georg Heeg eK, in 1987 when he was 33 years old. The company took care of Smalltalk customers in Central Europe and offered licenses, training, consulting, and project development.
After Cincom Systems, Inc. acquired the Smalltalk business from ObjectShare in 1999, Georg Heeg eK aligned its business to partner with Cincom’s successful Smalltalk business. Heeg and Cincom agreed to a multi-year agreement that focused on Smalltalk Support, Engineering, and Consulting Services to provide Smalltalk services to Cincom, Cincom Smalltalk customers, and application partners.
Georg Heeg has been involved with this network technology since the beginning of the Internet age. He was a staff member at Dortmund University when the Internet came to Germany in the 1980s. A whole series of software technologies have emerged from this ongoing debate, the latest of which is SmalltyWeb – a highly flexible CMS system.
In June 2011, the subsidiary, Georg Heeg AG, purchased the ERP system Component Studio and began to actively modernize the ERP solution. To further develop and modernize Component Studio using Cincom Smalltalk, Heeg entered a Value Added Reseller (VAR) relationship with Cincom. Through the VAR relationship, Heeg developed the Smallty platform, and in 2023, Component Studio was renamed SmalltyERP, and it has been maintained and further developed using the current Cincom Smalltalk.
The Smallty platform is the basis for Heeg’s Smalltalk as a Service business with:
- SmalltyWeb – highly flexible Web Content Management System for small, medium, large and for highly complex web sites.
- · SmalltyERP – highly fixable ERP system for SME, adaptable to each specific business
- · SmalltyPDF and SmalltyPDF lite – programmatic creation of PDF files from VisualWorks
- · SmalltyPy – the bridge between Smalltalk and Python
- · SmalltyAIConnect – the bridge between Smalltalk and OpenAI
With the success of Smalltalk as a Service business, in late 2023, Heeg initiated discussions with Cincom Systems to transition the 25-year multifaceted relationship to focus on his new application and services business. Through the first quarter of 2024, Cincom and Georg Heeg eK agreed to discontinue the existing agreement, and several Heeg developers, consultants, and support staff members joined Cincom’s Smalltalk team.
Georg Heeg will continue to develop the Smallty platform with the applications based on this platform and offer training and high-level consulting.
Suzanne Fortman, Smalltalk Operations Director at Cincom, said:
“Having worked closely with the Heeg team for more than 20 years, integrating several members of the development and support staff to Cincom and our Cincom Smalltalk team is a natural fit. The collaboration with the core staff will be even closer and it will benefit the further development of Cincom Smalltalk. Cincom and the Cincom Smalltalk team are delighted to have gained such highly qualified and enthusiastic new colleagues.”
Georg Heeg, owner of Georg Heeg eK and main shareholder of Georg Heeg AG said:
“I founded my company more than 36 years ago to spread Smalltalk in Central Europe. Smalltalk is still the best technology to develop software because Smalltalk software is much easier to understand than other technologies. This step strengthens basic technology. My company will continue to develop our own products and offer services on the market. Our new partnership with Cincom is as a Value Added Reseller to build our applications using Cincom Smalltalk and to partner with Cincom to market our products. Georg and Cincom will also enter into a new consulting services agreement to provide consulting services and training as needed for Cincom’s Smalltalk customers and partners. As a Cincom Smalltalk customer, we will also benefit from the newly expanded development team at Cincom.”
Pragmas, Pragmas, and More Pragmas: Hidden Gems – Tagging, Part 3
The Hidden Gems screencast is a series of live coding examples created for passionate Cincom Smalltalk developers. These screencasts share valuable insight into the products and inform our users about things they may not know about.
Pragmas are a true hidden gem, and when used well, can help make applications simpler and easier to develop and maintain. We use past Hidden Gems examples and show how you can add new data series to applications by adding a single new method:
- Tagging, Part 1 – Demonstrates how you could use no-op methods as messages to tag methods.
- Tagging, Part 2 – Demonstrates how you can tag methods in another manner by using pragmas.
- (NEW!) Tagging, Part 3 – Showing more capable options with Pragmas.
Included in this screencast:
- Pragma keyword setup (declaration)
- Finding Pragmas
- Pragma add notification and response
- Best practices
You can watch this new Hidden Gems screencast here.
This is a powerful video that demonstrates how you can add new data with just one method! We hope this screencast provides a lot of value and new ideas for developers.