the jvm has also become the target of other languages implementations. so what ms is pushing for .net is occurring "naturally" for the java runtime. it's refreshing to be able to program in scheme using SISC or Kawa. probably it will be even more so with the GPL. It's definitely a runtime to consider ;)

it's funny you are mentioning factor -- without having played with it -- i find it interesting too (and its author's blog too) I have played with it a bit as I smelled potential for one of my favourite subject: symbolic manipulation. what is annoying is that I can "play" mostly on HP-UX and cygwin, and these days on HP-UX you have to compile everything by yourself... will have to try co-linux some day

--stephan