C# can "go native" right now. NGEN precompiles the IL into native code if you use the normal framework. Mono AOT compiles (and links) code into various archit

C# can "go native" right now. NGEN precompiles the IL into native code if you use the normal framework. Mono AOT compiles (and links) code into various architectures, but MonoTouch and Mono for Android (http://xamarin.com http://xamarin.com) would be the major public uses for it - native iOS / Android apps using C#. If you wonder "can they be any good": go get the new Rdio app. It's done in MonoTouch (and their Android one, in beta, is done in Mono for Android)