One of the reasons Smalltalk failed is called Java.
Smalltalk was actually getting a foothold in the enterprise when Java happened and everyone switched to it.
Eclipse was originally a Smalltalk environment (Visual Age for Smalltalk).
Yes, files also played big a role, because it was not possible to use source control systems with Smalltalk that worked across implementations. So you were bound to a specific vendor.
And actually Sun approached Viacom to license Smalltalk at much less than what they were currently charging. Viacom wouldn't budge so Sun invested in "Oak" that they were already playing with in house.
I made the switch from Smalltalk to Java. I remember how disappointing it was to return to such a primitive language. I also used the VisualAge for Java products, which I recognized immediately as Smalltalk tools. I wasn't at all surprised to find out they were actually written in Smalltalk
Smalltalk was actually getting a foothold in the enterprise when Java happened and everyone switched to it.
Eclipse was originally a Smalltalk environment (Visual Age for Smalltalk).
Yes, files also played big a role, because it was not possible to use source control systems with Smalltalk that worked across implementations. So you were bound to a specific vendor.