[woodchuck64]

> but only now are we seeing devices where there is no easy way to actually write code for them, on them

Ah, very good point.

Well, today's devices still lack the hacking essentials: pointer/mouse/variant, keyboard, large screen ; maybe a decade of advance will give us usable virtual keyboards/pointers/what-have-you, projection displays on all handhelds and THEN no manufacturer will able to hold back the onslaught of development environments that penetrate the walled gardens.

[zanny]

Honestly, those are just ease of use constraints - people with the right mentality will break through barriers to manipulate the device. A bluetooth keyboard and mouse are sufficient, and you can plug a tablet into a bigger display (though that is definitely not the new-hacker use case).

The real breakpoint is that you can't build software for the device on the device anymore, with the exception of web apps.

[woodchuck64]

> The real breakpoint is that you can't build software for the device on the device anymore

Right, but that's because the open source programmers don't see the point; if it's already a hassle to find and buy the proper hardware to turn your device into a full-blown ergonomic development environment, they figure it's not worth the effort to even think about software.

But if devices already come with easy to use virtual interfaces -- Google Glasses seems to solve the big screen problem, now we just need a virtual keyboard and mouse idea -- it's only a matter of time before veteran hackers say "This is ripe for a community, let's crack this baby open".