One of the only languages that compiles to a high level language such as C, Vala has interested me for quite a bit. I've been wanting to start a small project with it, but I've been wondering how I would distribute it.
The fact is, that it compiles to C code (C99 I suppose).
From a Vala developer in irc, #vala on irc.gnome.org:
18:57 < flo> It is of course possible to distribute the C code as
well. The compiler itself is shiped with vala and C code. We
actually access C-libraries over an abstract interface with all
advantages and disadvantages of the libraries we are using,
including platform dependencies.
Did you google? did you try it out? Does the Valal home page have anything to say? Did you ask on Vala forums? There are only 7 questions tagged Vala on SO (and one of those is "will Vala survive?"), so this might not be the best place to ask.
Why not just compile your vala to C and then run it through a C compiler, preferably on a different PC (for a thorough test, make that 2nd PC one which has never one any development work and install a C compiler specially for your test).
Of course that might prove something for a program, but not for all programs. Perhaps ask the mailing list (http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/vala-list), or the devlopers? Jürg Billeter - j at bitron dot ch Raffaele Sandrini - rasa at gmx dot ch
The question, paraphrased, is "how long is a piece of string", the best answer is "suck it, and see", and the caveat is YMMV ;-)g