semi OT: Android -> chrome native client in the browser

[Rikki Cattermole via Digitalmars-d]

On 3/04/2015 1:40 a.m., Laeeth Isharc wrote:
> Hi.
>
> I am sure most of you saw this:
>
> http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/04/googles-arc-opens-up-to-developers-runs-android-apps-on-most-desktop-oses/
>
>
> Relates to the Google native client technology which caught attention a
> while back (not all of it favourable - 'I thought we put a stake through
> the Active-X vampire, and yet it returns') but seems to have gone quiet,
> although in meantime as I understand it chrome store apps can be written
> in C, C++, etc. It's just that nobody uses the chrome store.
>
> There are potentially some benefits for light enterprise applications
> (particularly from third party vendors) through not having to go through
> the barrier of getting the user to receive IT approval for the
> application, have them get around to installing it, reinstall when the
> first time didn't work etc. But the shine off that is taken away by the
> presentation problem of having your app show up in the same context as
> some game for teens.
>
>  From a D perspective, native client seemed lots of work for little
> tangible benefit, since it depends on a heavily modified compiler
> toolchain.  (It uses a restricted instruction set, a little more
> restricted than originally as holes were found).
>
> https://developer.chrome.com/native-client
> https://developer.chrome.com/apps/getstarted_arc
>
> The idea of being able to have your application run as native code for
> speed and not have to work in two languages is appealing though.
>
> So perhaps keeping an eye on the new development that allows any Android
> app to be run on Chrome OS, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux (via a
> conversion tool called ARC Welder).
>
> As I understand it, DMD works more or less with Android/x86 (so
> presumably this tool might be able to convert DMD applications to native
> client so they run in the browser).  When we have android support for
> ARM, I guess it is feasible to write D apps that run in a browser on ARM
> phones/tablets.
>
> I have zero experience with ARM and Android development, so I may be
> missing something.  I will take Adam's advice on trying things and give
> it a try if I get time.
>
>
>
> Laeeth.

Might be an interesting little project to get D running on.
Probably only worth a small toy project.