How does CRuby (MRI) VM architecture execute Ruby code from source to runtime?

CRuby converts Ruby source into AST, compiles it into YARV bytecode, and executes it on a stack-based virtual machine.

CRuby execution pipeline has four major layers: (1) Parser converts Ruby source into AST (Abstract Syntax Tree), (2) AST is compiled into YARV bytecode instructions, (3) VM executes bytecode using stack frames, instruction pointer, and control frames, (4) Runtime system manages objects, GC, method lookup, and native extensions. The VM is stack-based: each instruction pushes/pops values. Method calls create new control frames, and execution is driven by a loop fetching bytecode instructions.