docs/parrot.pod - Parrot

The Parrot Virtual Machine

Parrot is a language-agnostic common bytecode format and an interpreter for dynamic languages.



An overview of the Parrot architecture and design.
Brief descriptions of the different executables and how to run them.
The Parrot FAQ.


Describes the embedding subsystem in excruciating detail.
An introduction to the Parrot GC subsystem
The Parrot bytecode format.
packfile-perl.pod, packfile-c.pod
A description of the string implementation.
Hints on writing tests for the Parrot interpreter.
A beginner's guide to debugging the Parrot executable.
Documentation for parrot_debugger, the Parrot debugger.

Supported Platforms

Parrot compiles and runs on a large number of platforms, including all common ones. The Parrot team is committed to supporting the following combinations as "core platforms": Linux (x86), Win32 (x86), OS X (x86 and PPC), Cygwin, FreeBSD (x86), NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris. Here x86 includes the x86_64 architecture. x86 describes that Parrot is supported to run on a 32-bit and 64-bit (AMD64 and Intel 64) CPU.


Parrot is developed and maintained by the members of the mailing list. The list is archived at: Many people have contributed their time and expertise to the Parrot project; see the CREDITS file for details.

Web pages


for more information.