From: Alex Young <alex@...>
Date: 2007-10-22T23:13:23+09:00
Subject: Re: IronRuby...will it be like J++?

Clifford Heath wrote:
> Thufir wrote:
>> Could it be that Microsoft won't fully implement the language 
>> specifications, a la the J++ versus Java scenario?
> 
> They have no need to do that.
> 
>> What are some potential issues down the road?
> 
> The issue is that many Ruby programs will be built that rely on
> (i.e. benefit from) using facilities only available on MS platforms.
> That's good if you need those programs, but the rest of us won't be
> able to run them. The sheer size of the MS installed base means that
> over time, there'll be no certainty for anyone new to Ruby about how
> to find a program they can use. Almost all cross-platform Ruby program
> will spawn MS-specific forks, and the community will divide into those
> whose programs work on Microsoft and those who don't.

Note how this specifically hasn't happened with IronPython.  At least, 
not to my knowledge.  And that's less open than IronRuby.


-- 
Alex