Xamarin is a bit of a hack. What we really need is a cross platform solid (i.e. not javascript) language supported natively.

What would be ideal would be that Apple, Google and Microsoft sit together and agree on a common language and GUI API that would work on Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS and Linux natively.

I've often dreamed of this, especially when it seemed all too obvious for MS to release an Android phone; then again after ubuntu/bash on Windows. But whereas it seems like a golden opportunity for MS, it would essentially be Google handing keys to a mobile realm to MS. Short of a super-deal on desktop I don't see what's in it for Google to enter such a partnership (and Bing vs Gsearch, or countless other frontal rivalries, isn't conducive to a desktop alliance, notwithstanding the predictable end/shift of desktop as a category/paradigm). Nothing beyond scope-limited projects like TS between MS and G, as I see it currently.

What's more likely these days is Google entering the desktop space (x86) by merging it with mobile (e.g. Andromeda). Pretty sure that OS could grab 30% of new laptops in a heartbeat (think: almost free for manufacturers: no Win license).

Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure Apple will do its thing (did they fix Gmail on Mail yet?) Though I think Swift, if it were in "the state of C#/.NET" as worded above, would eventually become a great candidate for a high level common language. Somehow I don't think Apple is trying, their open-sourcing seems to end at "reassurance" (stacks can't die if you can maintain the packages, b/c oss, yay).

C++? https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder

Or for something more like C#, Delphi? https://www.embarcadero.com/products/delphi

Both these platforms, which include a cross-platform UI library including native controls, are Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux in the next release.

The thing with C++ is that it's a hard language. I understand the power for low level stuff, and it is available already. But for 99% of apps, a higher level language like java or c# is really what we need.

Even C# is starting to show its age. Perhaps it's the occasion to reboot it. Start from scratch based on modern concepts with a truly cross-platform language.

With support from Microsoft + Google + Apple, and cross platform across Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS and Android, adoption would go to 100% (or 11!) on month 1.

A pipe dream for me would be if that common language were a lisp.

I think it should be BrainFuck rather

What's wrong with Vue.js/TypeScript/ES6/Weex(native) or React/TypeScript/ES6/Native? It's no C#, but it's modern, performant, crossplatform and can be OS themed.

I'm only familiar with TypeScript. It is adding types to javascript, which is welcomed. But that doesn't make up for a lot of the uglyness of the language. Javascript was never meant to be anything else than a way to open porn popups ads and it shows.

But even C# is starting to show its age and would deserved a reboot. If we agree on a truly cross platform language, we might as well make it modern and simple, with great tooling. That does mean breaking backward compatibility with older languages but the benefits of having a common language way offset the cost of retraining developers.