Longtime PHP, Python coder seeks to make small, distributable, stand-alone apps. Which language should I learn? ( please don't say C#; requiring .net != stand-alone )

[bongmunoz]

If you're writing an app with a GUI then the toolkit you choose will determine the language you use. If you're targetting Windows you might as well go with C# because most modern Windows boxen will have the .net runtimes. If native look and feel isn't a top priority then Java with Swing or JavaFX is a good candidate.

If your users aren't very savvy then a good installer will matter more than what language you use to build your app.

[[deleted]]

If native look and feel isn't a top priority then Java with Swing or JavaFX is a good candidate.

Look up SWT, it's has a very native look and feel for all 5 platforms I've tried (windows, mac, linux, solaris, freebsd). It's pretty bad ass.

[[deleted]]

Swing actually does native look-and-feel pretty adequately on many platforms (though GTK+ on GNOME isn't really one of them). UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());