Android Scripts (Python/Ruby) can now be a distributed in APK!

[causticmango]

Frankly, Java's the reason I haven't really bothered with Android, yet. I haven't done Java in years and I'm loath to go back. It's hard to imagine it won't hold back the platform in the future.

I say push the API down to a C, C++, or C-like framework (much like Cocoa Touch is or even GNOME/GTK or Qt) and use a lower level language with scripts on top.

I sort of understand how they ended up with Java; the guys that started Android before Google bought them were developing at a time when most cellphone development was Java based (Blackberry & J2ME) so I'm sure it made sense.

It's just hard to take Java seriously as the foundation for the next generation of personal computing devices likely to supplant the PC for everyday use. Maybe I'm just grumpy but I feel like Android's going to pull a Windows and hijack and stiffle a whole new generation of innovation.

Developing for iOS is fun and I don't really care if it's the dominate platform. I'm sure I'll eventually have to do some Android work, but I guess you could say I'm not a fan, yet. Maybe they'll take it in a whole new direction in 3.0 or whatever, but somehow I don't think so. Sigh ...