part of the problem is that old-time kernel developers are used to C and don’t know Rust," Torvalds said. “They’re not exactly excited about having to learn a new language that is, in some respects, very different. So there’s been some pushback on Rust.”
Linus hit the nail on the head. If you’ve been a Kernel dev for a decade or more, and have spent decades learning the ins and outs of C, why would you want to switch to something that is similar, but different in a lot of ways, just because a small subset of devs think it’s the best way forward? Let them handle Rust and the majority of devs will keep using C, even though Rust is objectively better.
As one of the other quotes suggested: fork the kernel project and rewrite it entirely in Rust, that way there isn’t any push back from the C devs. Replacing C with Rust in the upstream kernel is akin to replacing the engine in a car while it’s running or being used every day.
This specific talk was about defining shared common interfaces so these different groups could work together and the guy who actually talked him into stepping down essentially said “I’m gonna keep writing C and if that breaks your rust stuff that’s not my problem”. This isn’t about convincing the c devs to write rust it’s about convincing them to work together when some of them seem to have made up their mind to sabotage rust support (either through indifference or willful interface regressions). Personally I’m more ashamed what this points to for someone new wanting to come in contribute to Linux.
I think all the Rust devs should remove their code and leave. And when in the future the Linux devs change their tune and ask for their help, they should refuse.
I’m a C/C++ dude but I heard it being called the “Karen compiler”. It doesn’t look that scary based on samples I’ve seen, but there’s way more to it I am assuming.
I’m no Rust expert, but in my experience the borrow checker is a pain for a bit, then you start to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t, and after a while it has taught you to write cleaner code.
Linus hit the nail on the head. If you’ve been a Kernel dev for a decade or more, and have spent decades learning the ins and outs of C, why would you want to switch to something that is similar, but different in a lot of ways, just because a small subset of devs think it’s the best way forward? Let them handle Rust and the majority of devs will keep using C, even though Rust is objectively better.
As one of the other quotes suggested: fork the kernel project and rewrite it entirely in Rust, that way there isn’t any push back from the C devs. Replacing C with Rust in the upstream kernel is akin to replacing the engine in a car while it’s running or being used every day.
This specific talk was about defining shared common interfaces so these different groups could work together and the guy who actually talked him into stepping down essentially said “I’m gonna keep writing C and if that breaks your rust stuff that’s not my problem”. This isn’t about convincing the c devs to write rust it’s about convincing them to work together when some of them seem to have made up their mind to sabotage rust support (either through indifference or willful interface regressions). Personally I’m more ashamed what this points to for someone new wanting to come in contribute to Linux.
I think all the Rust devs should remove their code and leave. And when in the future the Linux devs change their tune and ask for their help, they should refuse.
I get the sentiment but that is in no fashion a way to move forward.
Just because some deva are assholes you gonna sabotage the work of the others 10 thousands?
Tl;Dr: Old farts holding us back, as always
That’s in no way what’s been proposed. Rust is used in a very well defined niche, nobody wants to get rid of C.
But it’s just that sentiment that got us here, you’re arguing against a non-existent threat, and thus reject the whole proposal.
In some of its characteristics, Rust is certainly a good language. The borrow checker, however, still haunts my restless dreams today.
I’m a C/C++ dude but I heard it being called the “Karen compiler”. It doesn’t look that scary based on samples I’ve seen, but there’s way more to it I am assuming.
At least it has something to complain about, unlike Karens.
I’m no Rust expert, but in my experience the borrow checker is a pain for a bit, then you start to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t, and after a while it has taught you to write cleaner code.