Newsgroups: comp.lang.smalltalk
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!europa.chnt.gtegsc.com!gatech!news.sprintlink.net!mv!usenet
From: rapp@lmr.mv.com (L. M. Rappaport)
Subject: Re: Instances in smalltalk?
Message-ID: <DAsuBI.9I3@mv.mv.com>
Nntp-Posting-Host: lmr.mv.com
Sender: usenet@mv.mv.com (System Administrator)
Organization: MV Communications, Inc.
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 00:28:22 GMT
References: <3shomi$j7o@portal.gmu.edu>
X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.81
Lines: 25

mtran2@osf1.gmu.edu (My-Phuong L Tran) wrote:

>Could anyone please explain what an 'instance' is in Smalltalk.  Is any
>referenced entity equivalent to an 'instance', if you know what I mean?
>Or, are only referenced entities "created" with <new> or <new:>?  Or is
>an 'instance' something else?  

>Also, what exactly is an 'object' in Smalltalk?  Is this statement true, that
>a 'class' is an object?  How about, an 'instance' (of a class) is an object?
>Finally, are there are a well defined set of rules for interpreting
>Smalltalk constructs?  I am using Smalltalk/V for Windows.
>BTW, I program in C++ and OO 4GLs.  Thanks.

As I have always understood it, the simple definition of a class is
that it is  like a pattern from which objects are created by
instantiation.  An object then is an instantiation of a class.
Objects of the same class differ from one another only in their
instance variables.  The terms object and instance may be used
interchangeably.

Larry
--



