> There was a fairly popular bytecode used in web apps: Java.

At least two, actually: Flash is another. Arguably better performing and more generally successful. And both of them were mostly open... freely targetable as runtimes, and almost freely re-implementable.

With as much hate as both of them have had, I find it a little weird when someone talks about doing it again, but then again, maybe the people who hated Flash aren't the same people who want a Google VM.

Or maybe they think third time's the charm.