IronPython 2.7.2 can load libraries from zip archives

The IronPython development team has published version 2.7.2 of its open source .NET implementation of the Python programming language. This stable update includes a number of notable changes, such as the addition of support for loading libraries from zip archives using the zipimport module.

Improvements have been made to the pyc.py compiler that allow it, for example, to generate standalone executables by embedding the IronPython assemblies, and the sqlite3 module now uses the csharp-sqlite library to provide access to sqlite3 databases. Preliminary mobile support for Windows Phone 7.5 and Android development using IronPython is also included in the update. Windows Phone is supported natively, while Android require's Mono for Android. Support for Apple's iOS mobile operating system is still being planned for IronPthon; however, its developers note that "it's much more difficult".

Following the 2.7.2 release, the developers discovered a "fairly serious regression" in operator method resolution that was introduced between 2.7.2 RC1 and 2.7.2. They have corrected the problem and released 2.7.2.1; all users are strongly advised to use this new version.

Further information about this update can be found in the release notes. IronPython 2.7.2.1 is available to download from the project's site, and requires .NET 4.0 or Silverlight 4.0. Hosted on GitHub, source code for IronPython is made available under the terms of version 2.0 of the Apache Licence.

See also:

• What's New in IronPython 2.7.2, an IronPython blog post.

(crve)