# Squeak

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q762464](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q762464)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeak)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/squeak

## Summary

Squeak is a software application influenced by Self, Smalltalk, Simula, Lisp, and Logo . It draws upon the foundational concepts of these programming languages and environments to shape its design and functionality .

## Summary
Squeak is a visual programming language and software development environment based on the Smalltalk-80 language. It was developed by Apple Inc. and released in 1996 as a free and open-source project.

## Key Facts
- Squeak is a visual programming language that allows users to write programs graphically
- It was developed by Apple Inc. and released in 1996
- Squeak is licensed under the MIT License and is part of the Software Freedom Conservancy
- The current version is 6.0-22104, released on June 6, 2022
- Squeak is cross-platform and supports dynamic typing
- It is influenced by Self, Smalltalk, Simula, Lisp, and Logo programming languages
- Squeak has a sitelink count of 21 across various platforms
- The programming language is classified as object-oriented

### Q: What is Squeak used for?
A: Squeak is used as a programming language and development environment for creating applications, particularly in educational contexts and research. It's especially popular for teaching programming concepts and creating interactive multimedia applications.

### Q: Is Squeak free to use?
A: Yes, Squeak is free and open-source software licensed under the MIT License. It's maintained by the Software Freedom Conservancy and available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute.

### Q: What platforms does Squeak run on?
A: Squeak is cross-platform, meaning it can run on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This allows developers to create applications that work across different environments.

## Why It Matters
Squeak represents an important contribution to the evolution of visual programming languages and educational software development. As a direct descendant of Smalltalk-80, it carries forward the philosophy of object-oriented programming while making it more accessible through its visual interface. Squeak has been particularly influential in computer science education, providing a platform where learners can see the immediate results of their code and understand programming concepts through visual manipulation. Its open-source nature has fostered a community of developers who continue to extend and improve the platform, making it relevant even decades after its initial release. The language's influence can be seen in later educational programming environments like Scratch, which borrowed concepts from Squeak's approach to making programming more intuitive and visual.

## Notable For
- Being a direct descendant of Smalltalk-80, maintaining the pure object-oriented philosophy
- Influencing the development of Scratch, a popular educational programming language
- Its cross-platform nature allowing development across different operating systems
- Being developed by Apple Inc., bringing corporate backing to an open-source project
- Supporting dynamic typing, which makes it more flexible for rapid development and prototyping

## Body
### Development and History
Squeak was developed by Apple Inc. in the mid-1990s as a modern implementation of the Smalltalk programming language. The project aimed to create a more accessible and visually-oriented programming environment while maintaining the powerful object-oriented principles of Smalltalk. Released in 1996, Squeak quickly gained traction in educational and research communities.

### Technical Architecture
Squeak is built on a virtual machine architecture that allows it to run across different platforms without modification. The environment includes a complete development suite with tools for creating, debugging, and running applications. Its dynamic typing system allows for flexible programming where variable types are determined at runtime rather than compile time.

### Educational Impact
One of Squeak's most significant contributions has been in computer science education. The visual nature of the programming environment makes it easier for beginners to understand programming concepts. Many universities and schools have used Squeak to teach fundamental programming principles, object-oriented design, and software development methodologies.

### Community and Ecosystem
Squeak has maintained an active open-source community since its release. The project is hosted on GitHub under the username squeak-smalltalk, and developers continue to contribute new features, fix bugs, and create educational content. The community has developed numerous extensions and libraries that expand Squeak's capabilities beyond its core functionality.

### File Formats and Development
Squeak uses its own package format (.sar files) for distributing and sharing code. The environment supports both reading and writing these packages, making it easy for developers to share their work. The source code is available on GitHub, allowing developers to contribute to the core system or create their own variants.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Squeak",
  "description": "Squeak is a visual programming language and software development environment based on Smalltalk-80, developed by Apple Inc. and released in 1996.",
  "url": "https://squeak.org/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15777",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeak"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ProgrammingLanguage"
}

## References

1. [The p_4984 Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/p_4984/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
2. [Source](https://squeak.org/)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013