We’re pleased to announce the release of IronPython 2.6 Beta 2 which can be freely downloaded at http://ironpython.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=27350.

It doesn’t get any more official than that.

A Little Background

For those who would like some background info, IronPython is the development Python programming language written in C# and uses Microsoft’s .NET Framework, the Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR), in much the same way as C# or Visual Basic does. However, IronPython is currently (as of this release) without the Visual Studio 2005 integration of Visual Basic .Net, C#, F#, and C++.

IronPython Studio

There is a project underway to integrate Visual Studio 2008 and IronPython called IronPython Studio, but the latest comment from Aug 16 begins, “Has this project been abandoned?” Not a good sign…

It is hard to say where the project is at this time, given the stress the IronPython development is under such as when using CodePlex, “IronPython must adhere to many of the same Microsoft corporate policies as a product such as Office 2007“.

Delta between the Well-Known Python and IronPython

CPython is the version of Python which is written using a C compiler, as opposed to a .NET compiler in IronPython‘s case. A list of differences for prior versions of can be found in the Differences FAQ, though it hasn’t been updated since 2.5.2. [The author understands the irony of updating the Delta given the title of this entry.]

Champagne Time

Both projects, IronPython and the complementary IronPython Studio, are excellent. I personally would like to see more from in the future being that I am a Python language advocate. Therefire, I toast their efforts and look forward to their achievements.