Python compilation ??

[Frank Swarbrick]

John Nagle wrote:
> Evan Klitzke wrote:
>> On 7/2/07, Cathy Murphy <cathy at nachofoto.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Is python a compiler language or interpreted language. If it is 
>>> interpreter
>>> , then why do we have to compile it?
>>
>   Iron Python compiles to Microsoft's byte code as used by their
> ".NET" common language runtime.  This is then compiled to machine
> code by a just-in-time compiler.

Does Iron Python compile to free-standing executables, or is there an 
Iron Python interpreter that is always necessary?

Frank