An introduction to IronRuby, a ruby implementation built on the .Net framework and the Dynamic Language Runtime. This presentation was originally given at a Columbus Ruby Brigade meeting.

1. IRONRUBY
Alex Moore
Consultant, HMB Inc.

2. ABOUT ME
HMB
.NET developer, some Java.
On-again off-again relationship with Ruby since OSU

3. KON’NICHI WA, IRONRUBY
IronRuby v1.0
Released April 12th, 2010
Compatible with 1.8.6
Runs on the DLR, which runs on the CLR
.Net 4.0 / 2.0

4. INTEROP HOP
Allows you to access compiled .NET code in Ruby
It will even mangle the names to be more Ruby-esque
WriteLine ==> write_line

5. INTEROP HOP
load_assembly 'System'
include System
5.times { puts "Odelay!" }
Console.background_color = ConsoleColor.red
Console.foreground_color = ConsoleColor.white
Console.write_line "DANGER, PONIES AHEAD!"
Console.reset_color

6. EXECUTABLES
ruby => ir
irb => iirb
gem => igem

7. TYPES
.NET => Ruby
Int32 => FixNum
Double => Float
Boolean => TrueClass, FalseClass
DateTime => Time

8. .NET => RUBY
Namespaces, Interfaces => Module
Classes, Structs, Delegates, Enums => Class
Constants, Static Methods => Class methods
Methods => Instance Methods
Fields, Properties => Getter/Setter methods

9. OTHER STUFF
Abstract classes => Regular ruby classes w/o
initializer
Abstract methods => Override in subclass
Virtual methods => Override in subclass
Static methods => CAN override.

10. OTHER OTHER STUFF
Private Binding Mode
Makes all private and protected methods public
ir -X:PrivateBinding ...
to_clr_type()
clr_member()

11. OK, SO WHAT ABOUT MY GEMS?
Some work, some don’t.
Ones that have native win32 code - no.
Ruby only, some.
New native pieces can be written in .NET languages.

12. WHAT ABOUT BOB RAILS?
We has thems, 2.3.8 to be specific.
Sql Server/ActiveRecord support too!
Even an IIS module for Rack/Rails.
Sinatra, HAML, SASS supported.

13. THIS IS DUMB, WHY WOULD I EVER USE THIS?
You can use pretty much all the .NET libraries
WPF / Forms for pretty UI
Excel API - Because you know corporations are run
on it
Testing. Use cucumber/rspec to test .Net code.
Get around the MS-only rules

14. CAVEAT _______
Can’t use win32 native gems
Not 100% RubySpec - Currently ~86%
Big Holes - RSS, Finalize, Shell, WeakRef, OpenSSL

16. 1.8.6?

17. 1.8.6?
Next version will be either 1.8.7 or 1.9.x compatible

18. LICENSING
Currently MS-PL
OSI Certimafied
Close to BSD
Probably moving to Apache or MIT license soon.

19. RESOURCES
IronRuby.net
IronRuby Unleashed - Shay Friedman
IronRuby in Action - Ivan Porto Carrero and Adam
Burmister

20. DOMO ARIGATO
moore.alex@gmail.com
@alexmoore
www.enginerding.com