<< System.Web.UI.Control "FindControl" method using Generics | Home | PowerShell Cheat Sheet >>

Why "Iron"?

Since I first heard about IronPython, I've always wondered why it was called that. When I think about "dynamic" languages, "iron" is not the first thing that comes to mind. Now there's IronRuby also.

I've searched "the internets", and have found no explanation of the names (although I did find out that Python is named for Monty Python and not the snake, which I didn't know).

...Or maybe I'm reading the names wrong and they start with a lowercase "L", not an "I". "L Ron Python" could be a tribute to scientology ;-)

Print | posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 7:08 AM

Feedback

# re: Why "Iron"?

left by Michael Foord at 8/4/2007 11:04 AM Gravatar
I always assumed it had *something* to do with the fact that it compiles Python code to IL (Intermediate Language bytecode).

Not that that really explains anything...

# re: Why "Iron"?

left by Justin at 8/6/2007 7:31 AM Gravatar
Maybe to indicate that it is stronger or better than native Ruby or Python?

# re: Why "Iron"?

left by bratch at 12/27/2007 11:32 PM Gravatar
From an NxtGenUG interview on Nov 6, 2007 Michael Foord (presumably the same MF as above):
Okay, why the word Iron? I've always wondered this. Iron this or Iron that. Why Iron?
The best explanation I have heard comes from John Lamb, he says it is revisionist history, that have invented it backward to fit with iron, but I think that It Runs On dotNet is a good acronym.
Post A Comment
Title:
Name:
Email:
Website:
Comment:
Verification:
 
Copyright © Brian Schroer