When it comes to enterprise app development, organizations demand software applications to work flawlessly, seamlessly, and be reliable. Most organizations prefer languages like Java, Python, and .NET, as they have giant ecosystems, predictable tools, and millions of coders who know them well.
However, here is something that might surprise you. One of the oldest object-oriented languages around, Smalltalk is quietly proving its relevance in the modern app development landscape. How? Smalltalk language addresses problems enterprises face daily: maintainability, adaptability, and complexity management.
This positions Smalltalk as a strategic option for organizations planning long-term digital transformations. There are developers in finance and IT services who still maintain massive Smalltalk systems that have been running for decades without a rewrite. That kind of staying power is rare in technology.
So, the real question isn’t whether Smalltalk is outdated. It’s whether we’ve overlooked something valuable that might actually be more relevant now than ever.
A Bit of History on Smalltalk
Smalltalk isn’t new. It rolled out of Xerox PARC in the 1970s, the same innovation lab that inspired innovations ranging from GUIs to Ethernet. At the time, it was revolutionary because it wasn’t just another language; it was the blueprint for object-oriented programming. Classes, methods, and inheritance, they all got their big break through Smalltalk.
So, if you’ve ever coded in Java or C#, you were indirectly living in its shadow.
Banks, insurance companies, logistics firms, and many organizations trusted Smalltalk back then, and some never left. Not because they’re clinging to old tech out of stubbornness, but because the technology still works for them well.
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Why Enterprises Should Care about Smalltalk in 2025
Here are 5 key reasons why enterprises should care about Smalltalk in 2025 and in the coming years:
Real-Time Coding: Imagine fixing a bug or adding a feature while the system is running—and not having to stop/recompile/deploy. That’s Smalltalk’s world. It feels almost magical if you’ve only known rigid languages.
Pure Objects, No Half Measures: A lot of modern languages say they are object-oriented, but in practice, they mix in plenty of procedural or functional ideas. Smalltalk doesn’t do that; it is OOP end to end. That translates into cleaner, more consistent systems.
Longevity: Enterprise applications live decades. Smalltalk apps are legendary for running 20–30 years with upgrades instead of rewrites. That’s music to a CFO’s ears.
Developer Efficiency: Less boilerplate. Less ceremony. You just express business logic and move on. Teams often realize projects move quicker, not because of speed hacks, but because the language isn’t in their way.
Long-Term Maintainability: Enterprise applications are not temporary solutions. They often span decades across mergers, acquisitions, and regulatory eras. Smalltalk’s clean architecture and live debugging tools reduce technical debt, which is one of the costliest factors in enterprise IT management.
Industries Where Smalltalk Proves Itself
Enterprise applications on Smalltalk have delivered tangible business results across industries. Here are the various sectors where the language offers great value:
Banking and Financial Services – Trust, speed, and precision are important in banking and financial services. For decades, some global banks like JP Morgan Chase have run on Smalltalk systems that handle billions in financial transactions and compliance. What makes this remarkable is the adaptability of the platforms.
Healthcare Systems – Healthcare IT has a reputation for complexity, partly because of regulations that keep changing. Smalltalk is well-suited for that kind of dynamic environment. Healthcare organizations like Groupe Covéa, France’s leading property and casualty insurer, enjoy continuity as they can introduce new features without halting day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance without compromising patient care.
Telecommunications – In telecommunications, scaling operations is the defining challenge. For billing and network systems that process huge volumes of data, Smalltalk has consistently performed well in meeting the demands, powering solutions with high stability.
Information Technology (IT) Systems – IT systems exist at the heart of the enterprise, connecting supply chain, finance, HR, logistics, and customer operations. Organizations like Luxoft continue to build IT systems on Smalltalk that can digitize the processes to match the way an organization actually operates. The result is long-term alignment between technology and evolving enterprise reality.
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The Challenges with Smalltalk
Even with its strengths, Smalltalk does face challenges that enterprises should weigh carefully before adopting it.
- Compared to Java or Python, the number of active Smalltalk developers is smaller. Most enterprises that adopt Smalltalk either grow talent internally or work with consultants. This takes time and, in some cases, adds cost.
- In Python, which has a vast library ecosystem, organizations can ask for almost anything, from AI models to data dashboards. Smalltalk doesn’t offer that scale of pre-built solutions. Developers may need to build components themselves or rely on communities for updated solutions.
- Management teams often trust the most widely recognized languages like Java and .NET, which are considered ‘safe bets.’ They don’t want to take risks with something unconventional.
However, here’s the flipside: organizations already using Smalltalk don’t regret it. The real challenge is convincing decision-makers that ‘old’ does not mean irrelevant.
Why It Matters for the Future
When you zoom out, the appeal of Smalltalk is about sustainability. Enterprises spend fortunes on software, and yet too often that software ages badly. Teams rewrite, migrate, or replace systems, not because the business rules changed, but because the technology underneath does not sustain.
Smalltalk shows a different path:
- Build a system once
- Keep evolving it
- Avoid endless rewrites
Let the software live as long as the business needs it to.
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Conclusion
Smalltalk has already demonstrated the ability to survive enterprise lifecycles, and modern implementations have extended those strengths into the digital era. Its characteristics make it an attractive consideration for organizations that view technology as an investment for the coming years rather than a short-term tool.
The future isn’t about following the language trend, it’s about choosing foundations that let you grow, adapt, and keep systems alive for decades. And in that conversation, Smalltalk deserves a seat at the table.
FAQs
Is Smalltalk still actively used in 2025?
Smalltalk is actively used in industries, like banking and financial sector, healthcare services, and telecom. Many critical systems have been running on Smalltalk for decades.
Why should enterprises consider choosing Smalltalk over other languages?
Developers using Smalltalk get various benefits, including:
- Enhanced productivity
- Flexibility
- Scalability
- Improved collaboration
How does Smalltalk help enterprises reduce long-term costs?
Smalltalk reduces technical debt, supports live upgrades, and avoids frequent rewrites, which leads to substantial cost savings in the longer run.
Can existing Smalltalk systems integrate with modern systems and technologies?
Smalltalk systems can integrate with web services, databases, APIs, and even cloud platforms.
