Professional IronPython : [design and develop IronPython techniques

Thorough coverage of Microsoft's new dynamic programming language: IronPython IronPython is a powerful and vital part of any .NET developer's toolbox, and although it is several years old, very little literature exists on the topic. This essential resource fills that void and provides you with an in-depth understanding of IronPython. A brief introduction walks you through the installation, usage, and tools of IronPython and also explains what makes IronPython different from other programming languages. Coverage quickly moves on to explaining how to use and work with the IronPython language, and an in-depth look at its environment sheds light on how it can be stand alone or with the .NET Framework. You'll see how IronPython can be used to create either desktop or Web-based applications and you'll witness how it interacts with other existing technologies. In addition, coverage of advanced topics shares techniques for extending IronPython and making it a robust language. Provides you with an in-depth look at IronPython, how it is different from other programming languages, what it is capable of, and how to maximize its potential Explores how IronPython interacts with existing technologies and how it can perform administration tasks Answers popular questions, such as how to extend IronPython and make it a more robust language Tackles topics not addressed anywhere else, including executing IronPython using Mono You'll want to devour every topic covered in Professional IronPython so you can get started working with this powerful programming language today. Professional IronPython......Page 1 About the Author......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Who This Book Is For......Page 19 How This Book Is Structured......Page 20 What You Need to Use This Book......Page 21 Conventions......Page 22 Errata......Page 23 p2p.wrox.com......Page 24 Part I: Introducing IronPython......Page 25 Chapter 1: Discovering IronPython......Page 27 An Overview of IronPython......Page 28 Getting IronPython......Page 31 Understanding the Dynamic Language Runtime......Page 35 Using the IronPython Console......Page 36 Using the IronPython Windowed Environment......Page 44 Creating Your First Application......Page 45 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 46 Chapter 2: Understanding the IronPython Basics......Page 47 Using Visual Studio to Create IronPython Applications......Page 48 Understanding the Use of Indentation and Capitalization in IronPython......Page 55 Considering Data Types in IronPython......Page 57 Exploring the IronPython Modules......Page 60 Interacting with the IronPython Environment......Page 64 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 65 Part II: Using the IronPython Language......Page 67 Chapter 3: Structured Language Elements......Page 69 Stringing Statements Together......Page 70 Selecting Between Options......Page 72 Creating Loops......Page 75 Performing Enumerations......Page 77 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 78 Chapter 4: Using Arrays and Collections......Page 79 Working with Tuples, Lists, and Arrays......Page 80 Working with the Collections Module......Page 96 Using Dictionaries......Page 98 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 100 Chapter 5: Interacting with Structures and Objects......Page 101 Working with Existing Objects......Page 102 Creating New Objects......Page 113 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 117 Part III: Working with IronPython......Page 119 Chapter 6: Using the Python Standard Library......Page 121 Considering the Standard Library Features......Page 122 Obtaining and Installing the Python Standard Library......Page 124 Accessing the Standard Library from IronPython......Page 126 Using the Standard Library Features......Page 128 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 139 Chapter 7: Accessing the .NET Framework......Page 141 Importing the .NET Framework Assemblies......Page 142 Using .NET Data Types......Page 150 Interacting with .NET Framework Elements......Page 152 Working with Generics......Page 159 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 161 Chapter 8: Creating Windows Forms Applications......Page 163 Working without a Visual Designer......Page 164 Defining Windows Forms......Page 166 Interacting with Predefined and Custom Events......Page 174 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 183 Chapter 9: Interacting with COM Objects......Page 185 An Overview of COM Access Differences with Python......Page 186 Choosing a Binding Technique......Page 188 Defining an Interop DLL......Page 191 Performing Late Binding Using Activator.CreateInstance()......Page 210 Performing Late Binding Using Marshal.Get ActiveObject()......Page 213 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 215 Chapter 10: Using IronPython for Administration Tasks......Page 217 Understanding the Command Line......Page 218 Interacting with the Environment......Page 231 Starting Other Command Line Applications......Page 242 Providing Status Information......Page 244 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 246 Chapter 11: Developing ASP.NET Applications......Page 247 Obtaining ASP.NET Dynamic Language Support......Page 248 Creating a Web Site......Page 252 Building a Basic ASP.NET Site Using IronPython......Page 253 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 264 Chapter 12: Debugging IronPython Applications......Page 265 Understanding IronPython Warnings......Page 266 Obtaining Error Information......Page 276 Debugging with the Python Debugger......Page 280 Debugging with the CLR Debugger......Page 284 Using Visual Studio for IronPython Debugging......Page 286 Defining and Using Exceptions......Page 287 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 290 Part IV: Advanced IronPython Topics......Page 293 Chapter 13: Working with XML Data......Page 295 Using the .NET XML Functionality......Page 296 Using XMLUtil......Page 300 Using the Python Modules......Page 305 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 310 Chapter 14: Interacting with the DLR......Page 311 Obtaining DLR......Page 312 Working with Hosting APIs......Page 317 Understanding the Extensions to LINQ Expression Tree......Page 322 Working with IDynamicObject......Page 324 Understanding the ActionBinder......Page 328 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 329 Chapter 15: Using IronPython from Other .NET Languages......Page 331 Understanding the Relationship Between Dynamic and Static Languages......Page 332 Creating an Externally Accessible IronPython Module......Page 333 Accesing the Module from C#......Page 336 Accesing the Module from Visual Basic.NET......Page 343 Debugging the External Module......Page 345 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 348 Chapter 16: Extending IronPython Using C#......Page 349 Understanding the Requirements for an Extension......Page 350 Considering IronPython and Static Language Differences......Page 351 Creating the Simple C# Extension......Page 353 Using C# for User Interface Support......Page 360 Using C# for Win32 Support......Page 372 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 380 Chapter 17: Extending IronPython Using Visual Basic.NET......Page 383 Creating the Simple Visual Basic.NET Extension......Page 384 Using Visual Basic.NET for User Interface Support......Page 391 Using Visual Basic.NET for Database Support......Page 401 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 410 Chapter 18: Using IronPython for Application Testing......Page 411 Understanding Why You Want to Use IronPython for Testing......Page 412 Considering the Test Environment......Page 413 Testing DLLs......Page 416 Testing Applications......Page 420 Performing Command Line Tests......Page 426 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 428 Chapter 19: Using IronPython with Mono......Page 429 What Is Mono?......Page 430 Obtaining and Installing Mono......Page 434 Creating an IronPython Application with Mono......Page 436 Using IronPython Constructively......Page 442 Implementing Standard Types, Functions, and Behaviors......Page 445 Missing CPython Libraries......Page 447 Missing or Changed Extension Modules......Page 450 Using Custom CPython Extensions......Page 454 Using Garbage Collection......Page 455 Obtaining the Extensions......Page 457 Overcoming Potential Extension Problems......Page 459 Obtaining Third-Party Solutions......Page 460 Index......Page 463

Thorough coverage of Microsoft’s new dynamic programming language: IronPython

IronPython is a powerful and vital part of any .NET developer's toolbox, and although it is several years old, very little literature exists on the topic. This essential resource fills that void and provides you with an in-depth understanding of IronPython.

A brief introduction walks you through the installation, usage, and tools of IronPython and also explains what makes IronPython different from other programming languages. Coverage quickly moves on to explaining how to use and work with the IronPython language, and an in-depth look at its environment sheds light on how it can be stand alone or with the .NET Framework. You'll see how IronPython can be used to create either desktop or Web-based applications and you’ll witness how it interacts with other existing technologies. In addition, coverage of advanced topics shares techniques for extending IronPython and making it a robust language.

• Provides you with an in-depth look at IronPython, how it is different from other programming languages, what it is capable of, and how to maximize its potential
• Explores how IronPython interacts with existing technologies and how it can perform administration tasks
• Answers popular questions, such as how to extend IronPython and make it a more robust language
• Tackles topics not addressed anywhere else, including executing IronPython using Mono

You'll want to devour every topic covered in Professional IronPython so you can get started working with this powerful programming language today.