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SUMMARY OF SMALLT ALK MESSAGE FORMS AND INTENTIONS


'Alc:m C. Kay
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
August 1974




,Of the three parts from which Sl'rli1LLT ALK' communications are bullt--a
message f9rm, its intent. ~nd the nctuaf method usc~ to carry out, the intent--
only the Jirst t'vVO, nra, shown' in this notc. The methods have been completely
1
suppressed irrcgnrdlcss 'of how simple they might have been to say.

Sfl1ALLTALK is bused :on a simple yet comprehensive model of, the
universe:, then:~ are only objects which contain locar memory (or state); the
,objects 'communicate by _sending nnd receiving messages (which are- also
~bJects)i - the objects arc defitled by a class description which' is a collection of
properties common to each member of the class and is' specified by giving
, recognizers and repIJesto only those messages to which an object In the class Is
\vH!in9 to respond.

til/NOR DETAILS

a. To food your dis/t pacK: If the switch on the left and the light on the
tight don't say "Iond lt , then push the switch to "load" and wait for the light. fA
previous' user will lea've [l note on the Keyboard if this is not OK.) Pull the door
,open and remove the disk if there. Slide your disk in, close the door and push