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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.

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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?

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.

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).

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

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