Android handhelds are becoming more popular, Nutter noted.

Nutter and colleague Tom Enebo to carry on with JRuby development at Engine Yard. , which fostered an uncertainty about Oracle's commitment to the JRuby project, Nutter explained.

"We really didn't have any evidence either way," about whether or not the project would be picked up once Oracle took over Sun, he said.

With the merger proceeding, JRuby developers at Sun could not talk about future endeavors, said Nutter. "That certainly put a damper on our plans," as far as talking about the project itself, he said.

Meanwhile, Nutter and colleagues will conduct a JRuby technical conference, called in Burlingame, Calif., November 22,  beginning the day after the event in the same location.  The JRuby core team will be featured along with sessions on  topics such as Android support. Although the conference already is full, interested persons can get on a waiting list to attend, Nutter said.