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VAST Training

A live, hands-on course that builds a strong foundation in Smalltalk and equips developers to confidently work with the VAST Platform.

Mariano Martinez Peck presenting

'Introduction to VAST Platform' Training

The 'Intro. to VAST Platform' training program equips developers with the skills to extend and modernize enterprise systems. Through live, instructor-led sessions, participants gain a strong foundation in Smalltalk while working through practical exercises in class design, messages, debugging, collections, streams, and the VAST IDE.

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Why Invest in VAST Training?

Many organizations depend on VAST. This course turns your team into confident developers who can keep Smalltalk systems moving forward.

  • Faster onboarding so new hires contribute sooner

  • Shared standards that improve collaboration across experience levels

  • Higher code quality with knowledge of testing, debugging, and profiling

  • Future-ready teams equipped to extend and modernize VAST applications

Program Overview

A 5-day, instructor-led program that gives developers the Smalltalk foundation and VAST skills to succeed in real-world, enterprise projects.

 

Features

  • 5 days, instructor-led 

  • Interactive, live demos, and guided exercises

  • Course materials and code exercises for continued learning

  • Delivered by instructors with decades of experience in Smalltalk development
Training and planning session on-site

Hands-On Learning, Step by Step

Participants progress through 20 guided exercises covering the essential skills needed to expand their knowledge of the VAST Platform:

  • Object Concepts – Build and extend classes; understand attributes, methods, and relationships.

  • Smalltalk Language Fundamentals – Explore messages, expressions, literals, variables, and blocks.

  • Debugging & Inspecting – Use the workspace and inspector tools to evaluate expressions, drill into objects, and modify values at runtime.

  • Collections & Streams – Work with arrays, sets, intervals, and streams to manipulate data and uncover patterns.

  • Building Applications – Create, extend, and animate classes; complete a working  application with graphics and motion.

  • The VAST IDE & Environment – Explore class hierarchies, browsers, ENVY code management, and version control.

  • Modern Practices in VAST – Apply unit testing, coding standards, profiling, and refactoring for maintainable, high-quality code.

A Course Designed for Every Level

This VAST training program bridges the gap between legacy systems and modern practices. Developers gain a solid grounding in Smalltalk and the VAST Platform, while also learning techniques that strengthen collaboration, increase code quality, and extend the life of mission-critical applications.
  • Junior Developers – Learn object-oriented programming and Smalltalk fundamentals.

  • Experienced Engineers – Refresh Smalltalk knowledge and apply modern practices.

  • Mixed Teams – Build a shared foundation that improves collaboration and code consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smalltalk and why is it relevant today?

Smalltalk is a pioneering object-oriented language with a live, image-based environment. Many enterprise systems still run on it, and its principles influence modern languages and IDEs—making it a powerful foundation for clean design and refactoring.

Do I need prior Smalltalk experience?

No. The course is designed for both beginners and experienced developers. We start with language fundamentals and progress to hands-on work in the VAST Platform.

What will participants actually learn?

You’ll practice class design, messages, debugging, collections, streams, and the VAST IDE. You’ll also apply modern practices—unit testing, profiling, and coding standards—so you can be productive on real VAST projects right away.

How long is the course and how is it delivered?

It’s a 5-day, instructor-led program offered virtually or on-site. Sessions combine short lectures, live demos, guided exercises, and practical code exercises tied to enterprise use cases.

Who should attend?

Junior developers building OOP fundamentals, experienced engineers refreshing Smalltalk/VAST skills, and mixed teams who want consistent standards and faster onboarding.

Why should our organization invest in training in the age of AI?

Investing in training ensures your teams stay relevant and adaptable. In the age of AI, understanding core software principles and modern development practices helps developers work smarter with new tools, maintain critical systems, and innovate responsibly.

Can this training be customized for my team?

Yes. We offer private sessions tailored to your codebase, workflows, and goals. Contact us to discuss customization options.

What will participants build during the course?

Participants complete a series of exercises that culminate in a working GUI application to practice graphics, events, animation, and environment tooling—mirroring real tasks in the VAST Platform.

Do you provide materials or certification?

Participants receive course materials and code exercises. A certificate of completion is available upon request for attendees who finish the program.

How do we get pricing or schedule a training course?

Request training details for current pricing, dates, and training availability.

Need additional training?

Get your staff up-to-speed with customized training in the other software engineering disciplines of your choice. We have deep knowledge in:

  • Assembly
  • C / C++
  • Dart™ / Flutter™
  • Java®
  • Rust™
  • Virtual Machine Implementations
  • Dynamic Language Runtimes
  • Code Generator Creation & more

Prepare for success with the VAST Platform.

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