Overview of installation
VAST Platform conceptually consists of two major pieces:
•The Manager, which consists of the code repository (library) for the Smalltalk code shipped with the VAST product and the code you develop, together with the programs that provide access to the library.
•The Client, which consists of all the components --- the image, virtual machine, and supporting programs and files (bitmaps, localized messages, etc.) -- that are needed to run VAST programming tools and connect to the library.
Installation Configurations
Developers work with VAST Platform in two ways -- either standalone or in a team development configuration -- depending on whether the VAST installation is meant for the use of a single developer or a team of developers.
If you are working independently of other developers you can install both the Manager and the Client configurations on one machine, and connect from the Client to the Manager using either file I/O or EMSRV access. This is referred to as a standalone configuration.
In a standalone configuration, one developer works with his/her own copy of the library, usually on the same machine as the client. The simplest way to connect to the library in this case is to use so called File I/O, in which case it isn't necessary to run EMSRV. If you use File I/O, only one image at a time can be connected to the library. To install a standalone configuration, select “
Typical” (the default) on Windows or “
standalone” on Linux when you run the installer.
In a team development configuration
•The system administrator installs the Manager in a networked location and runs a server named EMSRV, which allows multiple connections to the library.
•Each developer installs a Client on his/her machine and configures the client to connect to the central library by changing the ini file used when starting the Smalltalk image.
To install for a team, the system administrator installs the Manager using the “
Custom” install on Windows or the “
Manager” install on Linux, and the developers install the Client using the “
Custom” install on Windows or the “
Client” install on Linux.
In either configuration you can use
Environments to create a VAST development environment. An environment consists of a new development image and ini file, and optionally other files you may want to modify such as xml and internationalization files. Environments also provides an interface to configure the ini file or to change the library location.
If you are new to VAST Platform, the documentation is readily available online. Once you have completed a Typical or Custom client-only installation, on Windows, there will be a link to the online documentation on the Start Menu. On UNIX and Linux platforms, you can get to the online documentation by using an Internet browser to point to the URL https://www.instantiations.com/docs/1002. You should install a local copy of the Documentation if you want it available while you are offline or are restricted from accessing it online. Directions are similar for
Windows and for
UNIX.
Last modified date: 02/18/2021