Ever heard about WebScript? It was an interpreted, Mini-#ObjC that came w/ #WebObjects. IIRC using WO w/ WebScript was free, building apps w/ ObjC required the $$$$ expensive license.
WebScript even had a "modern syntax" (I think this must be ~1998?) w/o the brackets (but function doIt() { } style).
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/LegacyTechnologies/WebObjects/WebObjects_3.1/PDF/DEVGUIDE/SCRIPT.PDF
