Java SIG Lecture

Abstract

JRuby is an implementation of the Ruby programming language targeted at the Virtual Machine for the Java ™ (JVM) platform. Ruby is a dynamically-typed object-oriented language with support for blocks, continuations, and all the usual OO trimmings. JRuby aims to not only support the full Ruby platform, but also provide an enhanced m:n threading model, a heap-allocated "stackless" call stack, AOT and JIT compilation of Ruby to bytecodes, and extensive, pervasive integration between Ruby and Java technology.

Ruby has become a very popular language recently, in part because of the popularity of the Rails web framework, but also due to the careful, cautious evolution of the language and libraries. Because of this popularity, many powerful tools and frameworks are available that would fit well into existing Java applications. We plan for JRuby to run all the high-visibility Ruby applications in concert with existing Java applications and frameworks. Imagine Rails with JDBC ActiveRecord connectors, session or entity beans implemented in Ruby, middle-tier Ruby-based business rule engines, or building your application using the elegant Rake build tool. JRuby will help both Ruby and the JVM language benefit from all these possibilities.

About The Speakers

Charles Oliver Nutter has been developing applications in Java since 1996, and is currently one of two active members of the JRuby development team. He has been working to redesign JRuby's core interpreter and improve compatibility with Ruby 1.8. Recently, work has also turned toward getting key Ruby applications to work, like Rails, RubyGems, and IRB. Charles is currently employed as lead J2EE architect at Ventera corporation. His current project is Ventera's ongoing development contract at the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, where he leads development of new applications and maintenance and support of existing ones. Charles presented JRuby at RubyConf 2005 and will co-present with Thomas Enebo at JavaOne 2006.

Thomas E Enebo is project manager and a developer of the open source project JRuby, a developer at the University of Minnesota, and a consultant with Aandtech Inc. Tom is interested in large-scale web application development and the Ruby programming language.