parrot ☆

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Description:
Open source virtual machine (for Perl6, et al.)

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 8.1.0@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 24, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: virtual-machine perl programming-languages runtime compiler interpreter

Install: brew install parrot

About:
Parrot is a register-based virtual machine designed to execute dynamic languages efficiently. It provides a robust runtime environment with built-in support for concurrency and memory management. The VM serves as a foundational layer for implementing languages like Perl 6, Ruby, and Python.

Key Features:

Register-based VM architecture for high performance
Multi-language support (Perl 6, Ruby, Python, etc.)
Built-in concurrency model with green threads
Dynamic typing with optional static typing
Cross-platform compatibility

Use Cases:

Implementing new programming languages on a shared runtime
Hosting multiple dynamic languages in a single application
Research and education in language design and VM architecture

Alternatives:

LLVM – LLVM is a compiler infrastructure focused on static languages, while Parrot targets dynamic languages with a register-based VM
JVM – JVM is a mature platform with broader adoption, but Parrot was specifically designed for dynamic languages from the ground up
CPython – CPython is a specific language implementation, whereas Parrot is a multi-language VM runtime

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Dec 24, 2025 11:12am	8.1.0	0	VERSION_BUMP	5afa2545
Jan 8, 2025 5:12pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	51cae7c0