Jython 2.5.2 released and benchmarking 20% faster

After 18 months of development, the Jython developers have released version 2.5.2 of the implementation of Python for Java virtual machines. Jython allows Java developers to incorporate Python code in their applications. The Python code is dynamically compiled into Java byte code at run time and allows for the seamless integration of Java and Python.

Performance improvements mean that 2.5.2 runs the pystone benchmark 20% faster than version 2.5.1 and sees even bigger improvements in other benchmarks. The new version also brings support for IPv6 and Internationalised domain names in the socket module, a rewritten posix/nt module, improved Windows error messages and better readline emulation. Python functions can now be passed directly to Java methods, if they take a single method interface such as Callable or Runnable as a parameter.

A large number of bugs were fixed from 2.5.1 and during the two betas and four release candidates of 2.5.2 and full details can be found in the release notes. Jython 2.5.2 is available to download as a Java installer and installation instructions cover the options for installing the package. Jython is available under the Python Software Foundation Licence version 2.

See also:

• Key Jython developer quits Sun, a report from The H.

(djwm)