isLoop 2026: International School on Live Object-Oriented Programming
4-6 July 2026 - Plovdiv, Bulgaria
isLoop is a 3-day, hands-on summer school on Pharo and live object-oriented programming.
The school is designed as an immersive experience where you learn by doing: short lectures, lots of practice, continuous feedback, and a strong focus on understanding how objects, tools, and the live environment work together. Whether you are discovering Pharo for the first time or you are already an experienced developer, you will leave with new skills, new habits, and new connections in the community.
Places are limited.
If you have any questions, contact us at gro.orahp@poolsi
Objectives
During the school, participants will:
- learn the fundamentals of objects and message sending in a live environment
- practice test-driven development and systematic debugging
- understand core design ideas (responsibilities, collaborations, simple object models)
- discover the Pharo toolset (Playground, Inspector, Debugger, Browser) as part of the programming workflow
- work in teams and exchange practices, with a strong emphasis on learning from each other
Two tracks
isLoop runs with two parallel tracks that share breaks and daily demos.
Track A: Beginners
For absolute beginners in Pharo (and beginners in OO who want a solid foundation).
The beginner track is structured around the Pharo MOOC style and philosophy: small steps, concrete exercises, and immediate hands-on practice. Expect to write code from the first hour.
Typical activities:
- guided exercises (objects, messages, classes, collections, tests)
- small programming challenges
- mini projects in pairs or small groups
Track B: Advanced and collaborative
For experienced programmers (Pharo or not) who want deeper knowledge and shared practices.
This track is less lecture-driven and more collaborative. It is closer to a sprint and peer-learning format, with mentors facilitating and helping unblock teams.
Typical activities:
- micro-talks and experience sharing
- coding katas (TDD, refactoring, design pressure tests)
- open source sprint (issues, PRs, code reviews)
- architecture jam sessions and tool-focused deep dives
General philosophy
- Learn by doing: practice is the core, lectures are short and actionable.
- Live programming first: inspect, debug, change, and understand software while it runs.
- Object thinking: focus on responsibilities, collaboration, and message sending.
- Community learning: beginners get supportive guidance, advanced participants learn from each other, everyone shares demos.
Timeline (daily schedule)
This is the default rhythm of a day. Exact details (rooms, breaks, and topics) will be published on the Program page.
| Time | Track A: Beginners | Track B: Advanced and collaborative |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11:30 | Guided practice (MOOC-style exercises, small steps) | Deep dive / peer session (tools, practices, micro-talks) |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Short lecture + guided workshop | Collaborative workshop (kata, design review, group discussion) |
| 12:30 - 14:30 | Lunch (shared) | |
| 14:30 - 15:30 | Hands-on lab (debugging, tests, refactoring basics) | Sprint planning / focused session (issues, pairing, reviews) |
| 15:30 - 17:30 | Mini-project work (pairs / small groups, mentor support) | Open source sprint / team work (PRs, code review, mentoring) |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Daily demos (shared) | |
What you need
- Bring a laptop (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- Install Pharo Launcher and make sure you can create an image: https://pharo.org/download (if you have problems with installation, don't hesitate to contact us)
- For Track B, previous experience with any OO language is enough. Prior Pharo knowledge is welcome but not required.
Registration
To register, please fill the following Form. Registration is required! The deadline is May 15, 2026.
Participation is intended to be accessible: the school itself is cost-free and all students are provided with free accommodation, but travel and meals are not covered.