Open Source Ruby Scripting Platform, .NET Integrated
The IronRuby scripting platform is an upcoming implementation of the Ruby programming language running on the .NET framework. It is tightly integrated with the entire .NET framework and makes all .NET and IronPython libraries easily accessible to Ruby programmers, while maintaining full compatibility with the Ruby Language. The IronRuby Platform Plug-In for Inference enables Inference Word to host the IronRuby engine and compile the embedded Ruby code into assemblies, which are executed from memory.
If you are a .NET developer, you can retain your favorite development tools. Microsoft provides IronRuby support into Visual Studio through the Visual Studio SDK. You can use Visual Studio to construct IronRuby scripts and libraries, with full access to the Visual Studio designer and debugger, and embed them into Inference.
IronRuby is built on top of Microsoft’s the Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR). The DLR adds key services to the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) to make the CLR an optimized environment for hosting dynamic scripting languages. Using IronRuby on top of the DLR enables the following:
- Sharing of Ruby code with other dynamic languages (e.g., IronPython, dynamic VB, Managed JavaScript) as well as with powerful static languages such as VB.NET, C# and F#.
- Native access to .NET types and framework classes that make IronRuby a great platform for experimenting, writing applications, or structuring workflow solutions using Inference in conjunction with .NET.
- An extensive IronRuby Library as well as the standard Ruby library (except for those that use C extensions).
- Use of all open source and commercial 3rd party .NET libraries. This includes 3rd party libraries for sophisticated GUI components (e.g.,. building custom Inference editors and data grids), statistical libraries, and computational libraries.