Zig already has the main advantages of being mainstream: first, it is small and easy to learn, which means you can hire any C/C++/D/Rust programmer, and they'll

Zig already has the main advantages of being mainstream: first, it is small and easy to learn, which means you can hire any C/C++/D/Rust programmer, and they'll be productive in no time. Second, it binds to C more easily than any other language (save maybe C++), which means you have access to a wealth of libraries already. Ironically, neutralising network effects like that is perhaps the best way to make sure Zig becomes mainstream, eventually.