Ok at the moment we use Python for application development in Ubuntu. It does a lot of what we need but could we do better with a different language or to create our own one? Oh and this is all about applications and plugins for more mission critical stuff you should probably be using Vala or C++.
So the languages that id say would be pleasing to use would be Python, Ruby, Lua and JavaScript (in a way). So all these are quick and easy to use but all of them still have quirks that developers have to learn. I had a quick look at QML and it seems quite awesome too but im talking about more of the Gnome world so ill continue.
Also in application development you have to know about specific tool kits. Currently in Ubuntu (and its not going to change in the future id say) we use GTK+. We have Glade to create interfaces and you only need to know like 10 lines of code to add to get that interface made with Glade working with the code.
So we have a load of languages and a tool kit and GObject for awesome APIs but do we really make application development as easy as Visual Basic? (NOTE: im not saying VB is all that great but it is almost stupidly easy)
So should we create a new programming language just for easy development to lower the barrier of entry? Python is easy and all but the language itself requires explanation at the start and the same with all the other languages I mentioned above. Comment about the other languages im really interested in what would be nice for doing fast development of desktop apps.
If I was making a language right now id make something like a mixture between
Ada (Because its closest to how I write pseudocode, if expression then do_something else do_something end if (with no braces))
VB (no end of line statements and some of its syntax OR AND..etc)
C (for some more syntax and for some of its nicer features like not caring just compiling and warning about bad statements)
Python (for the variable syntax)
but without any import commands so id make some sort of list of methods and what binding they belong so the compiler can import automatically. Id make a simple IDE and do a similar thing to how VB matches UI files with code and id make a simple automated build and packaging system.
For Ubuntu specific things to the language id do some one line of code things to add stuff like app indicators..etc. So the moral of this entire long winded story is to get a lot of new apps we could create a new language that does a lot of stuff in the background to solve the issue of people not being familiar with the platform or build and packaging systems.
Thats just my idea, I don’t have anything made or anything its just what id do if I had an operating system and wanted to encourage development.
Discuss 
Oh and im loving the new planet Ubuntu look.