JavaScript is still what I use to introduce programming to new people, because for people who haven't done their dues learning how to use a command-line, the hardest part of getting started with programming is getting your computer set up to do it at all. And since everyone already has a browser, getting started with coding only requires showing them how to open the developer console.
Installing stacks like Rust, Erlang/Elixir, Go and maybe OCaml is so fast these days that you likely will not have halved your coffee by the time it's done.
I agree getting to the browser dev console is instant gratification but I don't view 5 minutes of installation as a punishment from Hell either.
Fair, but most stacks including the previous infamous ones are two or three lightweight installs away. The VSCode/Atom/Sublime generation of IDE replacements made that possible.
I come from an environment (.NET) where setup was a day or two of work but now is a matter of 10 or less minutes).
