C# 4.0 – Dynamic Language Runtime
Dynamic languages are a class of high-level programming languages that execute at runtime many common behaviors that other languages might perform during compilation, if at all. Most of you probably spend most of your time in static languages. What are the differences?
Dynamic languages allow you to develop prototypes faster because you don’t need to worry about type.
I started to learn more about this here: http://channel9.msdn.com/pdc2008/TL10/. Jim Hugunin does a great job. I’m going to try to address his presentation in the form of a re-blog.
You can get his Powerpoint dec here ->Powerpoint Deck
This is a good high level view of what’s going on.
Components of the DLR (Dynamic Language Runtime)
| Expression Trees-dealing with code at runtime that is easy to understand, optimized by the CLR at runtime. Dynamic Dispatch – allow different languages to communicate Call Site Caching – to provide good performance |
More languages in the future
More languages will be built upon this.
You can talk to javascript objects, python, COM objects (for Office), .NET
Open Source Efforts – DLR
DLR is an open source project which grew out of IronPython and IronRuby. Approved by OSI it is available to language implementers who need source to make their languages work better.
You can download it now here.
http://www.codeplex.com/dlr
The evolution of dynamic language features
COM – Needs Dynamic Dispatch
Dynamic Languages match types at runtime
Sample Python Code
Note that Python has no types
Name and optional arguments
Finally, easier MS Office Integration
The Future - Past C# 4.0 – Allowing you to control the compilation process
