Using xTalk in place of Javascript

[Kurt Kaufman]

I may have mentioned this on the list before, but concussions as a result of falls during epileptic seizures tend to make my memory somewhat porous at times….

I have used a CDMA (Verizon) cell phone in the USA, but had to look for an alternative while traveling in the UK and Belgium.  I decided on the Nokia N79, as it was very small and light, included a GPS receiver, allowed me to access WLANs (Skype, email, web, etc.), had a decent camera, videocam and mp3 player, etc.

I note that one of the 3 common methods of writing applications for the device involves the use of Nokia's Web-Runtime-Kit (WRT).  I understand that this basically involves including a set of libraries (the Nokia widget engine, which I would guess derives its functionality from parts of the Nokia-Symbian web browser) linked using Javascript in stand-alone widgets. One has, in addition, access to various functions and sensors on the device using the Nokia Widget extension APIs.

I know that a number of other companies' products (Adobe Dreamweaver, Aptana Studio) have had free plugins written for them so that they can produce Symbian widgets.  I believe in all cases so far, the scripting language used to implement the logic operations has been Javascript.

Alright, so why do I bring this up?  I have some ideas for Symbian (s60) applications, and it would be wonderful if I could substitute xTalk for Javascript (which I can sort-of-follow but don't really understand). QUITE ASIDE from any business considerations (and I have no idea whether Symbian is "on the way-in or -out" in commercial terms), I was thinking that there might be another market for applications/widgets produced with Rev.  

I am writing as someone who would be interested in putting in the time to learn Javascript if others already familiar with it felt there would be an advantage of eventually being able to use an xTalk in its place.

Again, the applications produced would be indistinguishable from those linked by Javascript, and would not, at runtime, require the use of the MetaCard/Rev engine.

I also do not know how restrictive Nokia is in the use of its WRT libraries, but I would think it not as draconian as Apple in relation to the iPhone/iPad.  Certainly the distribution channels are far more varied.

I'm interested in any responses to my thoughts and will not take offense if given a virtual "dope-slap".  :-)

-Kurt