[igouy]

The image is not stand-alone: there should also be a sources file and a changes file (and of course a virtual machine).

"When you use a browser to access a method, the system has to retrieve the source code for that method. Initially all the source code is found in the file we refer to as the sources file. … As you are evaluating expressions or making changes to class descriptions, your actions are logged onto an external file that we refer to as the changes file. If you change a method, the new source code is stored on the changes file, not back into the sources file. Thus the sources file is treated as shared and immutable; a private changes file must exist for each user."

1984 "Smalltalk-80 The Interactive Programming Environment" page 458

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The image is a cache. For a reproducible process, version and archive source-code.

1984 "Smalltalk-80 The Interactive Programming Environment" page 500

"At the outset of a project involving two or more programmers: Do assign a member of the team to be the version manager. … The responsibilities of the version manager consist of collecting and cataloging code files submitted by all members of the team, periodically building a new system image incorporating all submitted code files, and releasing the image for use by the team. The version manager stores the current release and all code files for that release in a central place, allowing team members read access, and disallowing write access for anyone except the version manager."