Comment by coliveira

10 months ago

I also agree that Linux should close the door to Rust as a matter of principle, as it has done to any other language other than C. I don't believe in a mixed language kernel, it is just nonsense, specially with such a different language such as Rust which is closer to C++ in philosophy.

17 comments

coliveira

Reply
preisschild  10 months ago

I love Linux and have no preference to either C or Rust, but locking Linux in to a programming language that was designed in the relatively early stages of computing will lead to Linux dying in the long term.

There will be fewer and fewer new C programmers with people instead taking up newer systems programming languages like Rust or Zig.

  • Keyframe  10 months ago

    There are zero indicators for that happening. In fact, if history is by any means an indicator for the future, we might see these dying out over the years in favor of new hyped ones and C standing against the time. Zig is nothing so far, personally I believe Rust has some staying power for now, but we'll see. As for C, kernel C is not all that C where C was led to in recent years.

  • coliveira  10 months ago

    C and Unix have stood the test of time. It has been 50 years since they were designed, this is a long time in terms on computing. It is not unreasonable to think that they will stay for another 50 years.

    • bbkane  10 months ago

      Yes, they SHOULD be adding Fortran, another language that has stood the test of time, to the Linux kernel.

      Or... Maybe it's good that they add a new (still 10 years old) language with security and DX improvements occasionally. 50 years ago, that language was C...

      2 replies →

  • jorvi  10 months ago

    Interestingly enough the Windows kernel is slowly rusting. If they they see a significant drop in CVEs eventually (which is bound to happen, with how easy it is to footgun memory safety in C), it blows a huge hole in the stance of "no Rust in the Linux kernel". It'd be akin to saying "yes, more security issues please".

  • account42  10 months ago

    Just like C++ has already led to there being fewer new C programmers and has caused C projects to die out? I don't think the programming language is a real problem for someone capable of working on the kernel. Some people might prefer to work in another language but with a large project you need to compromise in many ways and the language is just part of that.