[dhqgekt]

If you like the Ruby syntax (but want a statically typed language), you might want to take a look at Crystal: https://crystal-lang.org/

> Crystal is statically typed and type errors are caught early by the compiler, eliminating a range of type-related errors at runtime.

> Yet type annotations are rarely necessary, thanks to powerful type inference. This keeps the code clean and feels like a dynamic language.

Why does it remain relatively unpopular and what can be done so that more people get to use it?

[dragonwriter]

> Why does it remain relatively unpopular and what can be done so that more people get to use it?

Because Ruby-ish syntax without Ruby’s semantics or ecosystem isn’t actually all that big of selling point, and if people want a statically typed language, there are plenty of options with stronger ecosystems, some of which have some Ruby-ish stntactic features.