From: Charles O Nutter <headius@...>
Date: 2006-06-02T02:08:59+09:00
Subject: Including Ruby's .rb libraries in JRuby distribution

------=_Part_2981_26308524.1149181736299
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline

As many of you know, JRuby is an implementation of the core Ruby interpreter
for the JVM. We do not reimplement any of the core .rb libraries, except
where those libraries have dependencies on C code. As a result, JRuby itself
requires the Ruby .rb files (lib/ruby/1.8) to function as a full
interpreter.

We have long included in our install guide a recommendation to fetch Ruby
and copy the .rb libraries to JRuby before use. However, this is very
cumbersome, and for environments where Ruby does not already exist, it is a
barrier to installing JRuby.

We are interested in including all native-code-free .rb files from the
standard Ruby distribution in JRuby releases, to allow for a complete
package. We would also include a copy of the Ruby license, and clearly
specify in the JRuby release notes which version of those libraries is
bundled. For example, JRuby 0.9 might be released with 1.8.4 libraries and
therefore 1.8.4 compatibility.

Would there be any concern from you core Ruby folks about this inclusion? We
believe it allows Java developers the easiest access to the Ruby language
and the fine work you all have done on its core libraries. Please let me
know your thoughts.

-- 
Charles Oliver Nutter @ headius.blogspot.com
JRuby Developer @ jruby.sourceforge.net
Application Architect @ www.ventera.com

------=_Part_2981_26308524.1149181736299--