Would it be possible to integrate Python or Perl with Ruby?

Question

Would it be possible to integrate Python (and/or Perl) and Ruby? I've looked at http://www.goto.info.waseda.ac.jp/~fukusima/ruby/python/doc/ and http://code.google.com/p/ruby-perl/ , but they both seem rather outdated.

Has someone generated a Ruby interface for Python's C API?

Edit: Python can be integrated with many other languages according to http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntegratingPythonWithOtherLanguages . However, that list doesn't include Ruby.

Answer 1

My school (Georgia Tech), along with Bryn Mawr and Microsoft Research, are doing a project right now called Pyjama. Basically, it uses the Microsoft DLR to allow you to freely mix Python and Ruby. I haven't tried it, but it sounds pretty cool.

Here's an example from the website. You enter the class in "Python mode". Then it gets compiled, and you run the command in "Ruby mode".

class PythonClass:
     def hello(self, value):
         print "Python says hello to", value

pc = python_class().new
pc.hello "Ruby"

Which produces "Python says hello to Ruby".

Answer 2

Integrating dynamic languages is one of the goals of the Parrot project. It's a virtual machine that dynamic language compilers target. Once compiled to the same virtual machine, you should be able to used the "object" form in any of the languages no matter the object's source.

The issue at the moment, however, is stabilizing the virtual machine and finishing off the mostly done compilers. However, that's been the state for a long time. :)