Would creating a Python interpreter that runs on Chrome's Native Client be enough? In NaCl you have an environment that lets you take C/C++ code and deploy programs written in that code to the browser. The Python interpreter (and the ones for several widespread languages) is written in C. Why not put the two together?
I've seen a proof-of-concept of this on webOS, which is essentially a browser since JavaScript programs can run natively. In webOS 1.4.5 and above, there is the PDK, which is a library that lets you make C/C++ programs compatible with webOS and run them on-device. Part of the PDK is the plugin interface, which allows JavaScript code to call C-compiled functions, which the C-compiled program exposes to JavaScript with special PDK functions.
Since the Python interpreter is in C, it can be adapted with the PDK to allow Python programs to run natively. Here is a post demonstrating it:
In Chrome, NaCl is analogous to the PDK, so why not have Python as an NaCl plugin and use it to run Python in the browser? You have to imagine that if NaCl gets widespread use, similar and compatible technology will pop up in competing browsers, so sooner or later your Python will be cross-browser.
I've seen a proof-of-concept of this on webOS, which is essentially a browser since JavaScript programs can run natively. In webOS 1.4.5 and above, there is the PDK, which is a library that lets you make C/C++ programs compatible with webOS and run them on-device. Part of the PDK is the plugin interface, which allows JavaScript code to call C-compiled functions, which the C-compiled program exposes to JavaScript with special PDK functions.
Since the Python interpreter is in C, it can be adapted with the PDK to allow Python programs to run natively. Here is a post demonstrating it:
http://www.ezequielaceto.com.ar/techblog/?p=359
In Chrome, NaCl is analogous to the PDK, so why not have Python as an NaCl plugin and use it to run Python in the browser? You have to imagine that if NaCl gets widespread use, similar and compatible technology will pop up in competing browsers, so sooner or later your Python will be cross-browser.
I'd like to see someone try Python in NaCl.