IronPython how cool it is

If any code snippets or content appear broken or missing, you can find this same post with its full content at blog.foundev.pro.

Briefly, IronPython is an implementation of Python in the .Net runtime. This allows you access to  .Net framework goodness while programming in a dynamic language. The current stable version 2.0.1 maps to CPython 2.5.This allows me to do fun fun things like use my python project to access a c# project. follows is a python script using Pinsor and accessing a .net dll.

C# code:

public class Command
    {
        private readonly DoingStuff _stuff;

        public Command (DoingStuff stuff)
        {
            _stuff = stuff;
        }
        public void Execute()
        {
            Console.WriteLine(_stuff.Message);
        }
    }
    public class DoingStuff
    {
        public string Message
        {
            get { return "From the Doing Stuff Class, I'm doing stuff"; }
        }
    }

python code:

from pinsor import *
import clr
clr.AddReference('csharpdemo')
from csharpdemo import *


kernel = PinsorContainer()
kernel.register( Component.oftype(DoingStuff),Component.oftype(Command).depends([DoingStuff])  )

cmd = kernel.resolve(Command)
cmd.Execute()

ouput is like:

C:ipyexmaple>”c:Program FilesIronPython 2.0.1ipy.exe” ipydemo.py

From the Doing Stuff Class, I’m doing stuff

I’m sure you’ll all asking yourselves “what the heck” so let me summarize:

1. created c# dll
2. placed a python script next to it named ipydemo.py
3. in that script I imported the c# dll
4. then I called my custom python IoC container Pinsor which is written in pure python
5. added .Net objects to my python IoC container
6. resolved a .Net object from my python IoC container
7. then executed it with the expected results and dependencies.

When I did this test I stared at the screen completely stunned for a bit.  Pinsor was very easy to implement, and it has some decent abilities considering its short life and my limited time.  I doubt I could make the same thing in C# in twice as much time, and I’m better in C#.  This opens up some worlds for me.

With all this in mind has anyone had a chance to play with ironpython support in VS 2010?

Finally, I’d like to thank Micheal Foord with his blog and book IronPython In Action. I highly recommend reading both if you’re interested in quality programming, but especially if any of this intrigues you.