Usage of dot '.' in Smalltalk

Question

What exacly is the usage of . in Smalltalk? Based on my understanding, it is the separator of different statements, but can be omitted if statement is at the end. Is that correct?

Answer 1

The . is a statement separator like ; in Pascal (usually used at the end of lines). The motivation (reason) being that the ordinary sentences in English end with ..

The places it must/could be omitted are:

1. Variable definition

2. Comments

3. One statement block or last statement at the block

4. At the end of a method

5. When you define a #selector or #selector: message

An example method from Smalltalk/X-jv:

selectorAsRegistryName: aSelector
    "Splits selector into string words with spaces. 
     For example: itemName becomes 'Item Name'"
    | registryName selectorCollection | 

    registryName := String new.

    selectorCollection := aSelector asCollectionOfSubCollectionsSeparatedByAnyForWhich:[:ch | ch isUppercase ] withSeparatorsIncluded:true.             
    selectorCollection at: 1 put: selectorCollection copy first asUppercaseFirst. "/ first string must be uppercase too

    selectorCollection do: [ :eachString |
        registryName := registryName isEmpty ifTrue: [ eachString ]
                                            ifFalse: [ registryName, Character space, eachString ]   
    ].    

    ^ registryName