Sorry for the title. There is something about Sun that makes it almost impossible to avoid solar puns. I just didn't have sufficient willpower to resist. I will try to be stronger in the future.

So by now you've probably guessed it: Sun Microsystems has hired me to work full time on Jython. They have also hired Ted Leung to represent the wider world of Python at Sun.

I don't think I can overstate just how excited I am about this. For a long time now I've been obsessed with Jython. Now I will be able to let my obsession take over completely.

So what does this mean for Jython? First off, just in case anyone is worried: Jython is going to remain completely open source. Sun has applied for membership to the PSF and the PSF will continue to be the steward of Jython's code. This move by Sun means that Jython is going to get some of the attention that it needs to move forward.

The JRuby folks have already been working with the Jython folks to find those places where we can share code. The fact that they work for Sun was no barrier at all to cooperation, but being in the same company means that I am going to interact with them all the more. Close cooperation with JRuby has no downside for Jython whatsoever.

I have to especially thank Tim Bray, who has been pushing the dynamic language thing at Sun for quite a long time. I'm sure the warm welcome that I got at Sun was in no small part due to the enormous success of the JRuby work that has been going on there, so thanks to Charles Nutter and Thomas Enebo for their work. Also thanks to the many folks at Sun who have been pushing for this, including Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart.

And of course thanks to all of you who use, contribute to, and talk about Jython. Jython is above all things a community effort. We should all share in the excitement. Hurray!