Introduction
# Smalltalk Skill
Execute Smalltalk code and browse live Squeak/Cuis images via MCP.
## Prerequisites
**Get the ClaudeSmalltalk repo first:**
```bash git clone https://github.com/CorporateSmalltalkConsultingLtd/ClaudeSmalltalk.git ```
This repo contains: - MCP server code for Squeak (`MCP-Server-Squeak.st`) - Setup documentation (`SQUEAK-SETUP.md`, `CLAWDBOT-SETUP.md`) - This Clawdbot skill (`clawdbot/`)
## Setup
1. **Set up Squeak with MCP server** — see [SQUEAK-SETUP.md](https://github.com/CorporateSmalltalkConsultingLtd/ClaudeSmalltalk/blob/main/SQUEAK-SETUP.md) 2. **Configure Clawdbot** — see [CLAWDBOT-SETUP.md](https://github.com/CorporateSmalltalkConsultingLtd/ClaudeSmalltalk/blob/main/CLAWDBOT-SETUP.md)
## Usage
```bash # Check setup python3 smalltalk.py --check
# Evaluate code python3 smalltalk.py evaluate "3 factorial" python3 smalltalk.py evaluate "Date today"
# Browse a class python3 smalltalk.py browse OrderedCollection
# View method source (instance side) python3 smalltalk.py method-source String asUppercase
# View method source (class side) python3 smalltalk.py method-source "MCPServer class" version python3 smalltalk.py method-source MCPServer version --class-side
# List classes (with optional prefix filter) python3 smalltalk.py list-classes Collection
# Get class hierarchy python3 smalltalk.py hierarchy OrderedCollection
# Get subclasses python3 smalltalk.py subclasses Collection
# List all categories python3 smalltalk.py list-categories
# List classes in a category python3 smalltalk.py classes-in-category "Collections-Sequenceable"
# Define a new class python3 smalltalk.py define-class "Object subclass: #Counter instanceVariableNames: 'count' classVariableNames: '' poolDictionaries: '' category: 'MyApp'"
# Define a method python3 smalltalk.py define-method Counter "increment count := (count ifNil: [0]) + 1. ^ count"
# Delete a method python3 smalltalk.py delete-method Counter increment
# Delete a class python3 smalltalk.py delete-class Counter ```
## Operating Modes
### Playground (Default) Stock image, ephemeral. Changes are discarded when daemon stops. User says: "load Smalltalk skill" or "invoke Smalltalk" — no special flags.
```bash # Start playground daemon nohup python3 smalltalk-daemon.py start > /tmp/daemon.log 2>&1 & ```
### Dev Mode User supplies their own image/changes pair. Changes persist across sessions. User says: "load Smalltalk skill in dev mode with ~/MyProject.image"
```bash # Start dev daemon with custom image nohup python3 smalltalk-daemon.py start --dev --image ~/MyProject.image > /tmp/daemon.log 2>&1 & ```
Dev mode sets `SMALLTALK_DEV_MODE=1` so the MCP server keeps the .changes file (instead of redirecting to /dev/null). The supplied image must have a matching .changes file alongside it.
### Common Commands ```bash # Check status python3 smalltalk.py --daemon-status
# Stop daemon python3 smalltalk-daemon.py stop
# Restart in dev mode python3 smalltalk-daemon.py restart --dev --image ~/MyProject.image ```
## Commands
| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | `--check` | Verify VM/image paths and dependencies | | `--daemon-status` | Check if daemon is running | | `--debug` | Debug hung system (sends SIGUSR1, captures stack trace) | | `evaluate <code>` | Execute Smalltalk code, return result | | `browse <class>` | Get class metadata (superclass, ivars, instance `methods` and `classMethods`) | | `method-source <class> <selector> [--class-side]` | View method source code (supports `"Class class"` syntax or `--class-side` flag) | | `define-class <definition>` | Create or modify a class | | `define-method <class> <source>` | Add or update a method | | `delete-method <class> <selector>` | Remove a method | | `delete-class <class>` | Remove a class | | `list-classes [prefix]` | List classes, optionally filtered | | `hierarchy <class>` | Get superclass chain | | `subclasses <class>` | Get immediate subclasses | | `list-categories` | List all system categories | | `classes-in-category <cat>` | List classes in a category | | `explain <code>` | Explain Smalltalk code (requires `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` or `OPENAI_API_KEY`) | | `explain-method <class> <sel> [--class-side] [--source <code>]` | Fetch method from image and explain it (or use `--source`/`--source-file`/`--source-stdin` to bypass daemon) | | `audit-comment <class> <sel> [--class-side] [--source <code>]` | Audit method comment vs implementation (or use `--source`/`--source-file`/`--source-stdin` to bypass daemon) | | `audit-class <class>` | Audit all methods in a class (instance + class side) | | `generate-sunit <targets> [--force] [--class-name <name>]` | Generate SUnit tests for methods and file into image |
## Environment Variables
| Variable | Description | |----------|-------------| | `SQUEAK_VM_PATH` | Path to Squeak/Cuis VM executable | | `SQUEAK_IMAGE_PATH` | Path to Smalltalk image with MCP server | | `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` | API key for Anthropic Claude (preferred for LLM tools) | | `ANTHROPIC_MODEL` | Anthropic model (default: `claude-opus-4-20250514`) | | `OPENAI_API_KEY` | API key for OpenAI (fallback for LLM tools) | | `OPENAI_MODEL` | OpenAI model (default: `gpt-4o`) | | `LLM_PROVIDER` | Force LLM provider: `anthropic` or `openai` (auto-detected if not set) |
## Using with Claude Code (MCP mode)
When Claude Code has a live Smalltalk image connected via MCP, `explain-method` and `audit-comment` can use pre-fetched source code instead of requiring a running daemon. Use `--source`, `--source-file`, or `--source-stdin` to pass the method source directly:
```bash # Inline source (fetched via MCP, passed on command line) python3 smalltalk.py explain-method SmallInteger + --source "+ aNumber <primitive: 1> ^ super + aNumber"
# Source from a file python3 smalltalk.py audit-comment Integer factorial --source-file /tmp/factorial.st
# Source piped via stdin echo "printString ^ self printStringLimitedTo: 50000" | python3 smalltalk.py explain-method Object printString --source-stdin ```
The three source flags are mutually exclusive. When none is provided, the daemon is used as before.
## Generating SUnit Tests
The `generate-sunit` command uses an LLM to generate SUnit test cases for Smalltalk methods and files them directly into the running image:
```bash # Generate tests for a single method python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "String>>asUppercase"
# Generate tests for multiple methods python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "Random>>next" "Random>>nextInt:" "Random>>seed:"
# Generate tests for an entire class (all instance methods) python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "OrderedCollection"
# Generate tests for class-side methods python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "Date class>>today"
# Custom test class name python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "String>>asUppercase" --class-name MyStringTests
# Overwrite existing test class python3 smalltalk.py generate-sunit "String>>asUppercase" --force
# Run the generated tests python3 smalltalk.py evaluate "StringGeneratedTest buildSuite run printString" ```
The generated TestCase uses standard SUnit assertions (`assert:`, `assert:equals:`, `deny:`, `should:raise:`) and is filed into a `GeneratedSUnit-*` category.
## Notes
- Requires xvfb for headless operation on Linux servers - Uses Squeak 6.0 MCP server (GUI stays responsive if display available) - `saveImage` intentionally excluded for safety - MCPServer version 7+ required (v7 adds class-side method support) - Playground mode: ephemeral, .changes → /dev/null - Dev mode: persistent, .changes kept, requires `--dev --image PATH`