I like the idea, but I wonder if it will ever take off. So many "build in your preferred language, publish to some other" platforms have been released, it is hard to keep track.
I will admit that html+css is a relatively good (set of) language(s) to describe a UI, and JS is the way to tie the dynamism together and provide client-side logic. But is it better than just learning the native version for each platform?
I try to keep track of all those platforms, and you're right, it's hard. My findings are summarized at http://www.mobilechameleon.com/ (hosted for free by Weebly, a YC alum).
Well, it appears there are only 2 in the most interesting category: Titanium and NativeScript.
My sense is that it's surprising we still don't have a decent way to build native apps in JavaScript. Titanium looked like the answer but I have trouble following where they're going. NativeScript looks promising so far but cannot figure out the tie-in to Telerik.
I doubt this or other solutions built by a for-profit businesses in a seemingly open fashion will go far. Facebook is a different case and having some hands on experience with current players, believe them coming up with a better engineered solution.
As for the general concerns, i can add that it's not just 'i know JavaScript and don't want to learn anything else', but rather having some common ground while building products/services on the web. It's probably ok for a big company to support say 3 platforms (web, android & ios), but hardly an option for a small startup or a one man band. Now i'd be more than happy to just stick with web, or at least the solutions bringing the others closer to it (that's by the way where Titanium is pretty weak).
I will admit that html+css is a relatively good (set of) language(s) to describe a UI, and JS is the way to tie the dynamism together and provide client-side logic. But is it better than just learning the native version for each platform?