[jawee]

I've heard some Python developers mention using Jython as a way to do this.. simple write in mostly normal Python and compile to Java bytecode.. http://www.jython.org/

Be curious to know if it has been done already and if so, how well it works.

[djacobs]

Can the iPhone handle bytecode? It seems like if it could, most developers wouldn't be complaining about the iPhone's closed language ecosystem. Ruby devs could compile using JRuby; Python devs with Jython; Lisp guys with Clojure (I know that's a stretch for some), etc., etc.

As a general question, how is someone going to get a language interpreter (or Java compiler) included on the iPhone?

[pederb72]

Just compile the interpreter/VM and include it in your application. It depends on the size of the interpreter if this is possible/practical I guess. It's no problem with Lua for instance, since the Lua runtime is really small.

[nailer]

Sure - you can now (as of the new rules today) ship a VM and bytecode (eg, Python VM and some Python code). Your app just cannot download additional bytecode (like Flash VM downloading arbitrary Flash bytecode).

[btnpushnmunky]

So you think it'd be exactly the same as bundling the VM and code for a .app bundle?