Microsoft's Jim Hugunin reports from MIX07 that the .NET Framework is gaining new support for dynamic (read: scripting) languages such as Python or Ruby. The Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR) is an extension to the CLR that adds the features important to such scripting languages, such as dynamic typing.

Initially, four languages will be supported on the DLR (and in fact, one already is): Python (through the IronPython project), Ruby, JavaScript (ECMAScript 3.0), and Visual Basic (I'm assuming the VBScript branch). Right now it's packaged with IronPython and as part of Silverlight 1.1, but apparently is still in an alpha state. However, the plan is to have it more properly debuted in July, at the lang.net conference.

Mr. Hugunin says to watch his blog for more information about the DLR, as it becomes available. We should soon see discussion of the dynamic type system, and he'll be continuing to blog on the DLR and its design afterwards. This is certainly something I'll be keeping an eye on!