Re:Rust needs to run, and be easy to use, on every platform
by johnny22 on Thursday March 08, 2018 @05:41PM
(#16548366)
I definitely see why you couldn't replace linux or postgres with rust rewrites anytime soon, but nginx?
Nginx seems totally probable.
Re:Rust needs to run, and be easy to use, on every platform
by the_grue on Friday March 09, 2018 @04:36AM
(#16550686)
> I like Rust a lot actually, but kernel modules aren't a good use case for it.
If we're talking about kernel modules in general, I'd have to disagree. I think it's a perfect language for kernel, as long it's all written in Rust. I only wanted to point out the practical impossibility of integration with existing infrastructure, such as Linux kernel, which is written entirely in C.
Re:Rust needs to run, and be easy to use, on every platform
by steveklabnik on Friday March 09, 2018 @05:12AM
(#16550848)
In general, Rust can work great with C projects. This is, after all, part of what it was originally created for: to replace bits of Firefox (which is C++, but that makes it harder, not easier).
That said, the kernel has special requirements; I'd never advocate such a thing for Linux, specifically.
Re:Rust needs to run, and be easy to use, on every platform
by jeffreyrogers on Friday March 09, 2018 @09:58AM
(#16552128)
I meant Linux kernel modules in particular. Rust seems fine for the kernel in general.
I like Rust a lot actually, but kernel modules aren't a good use case for it.
Edit: the_grue actually has an interesting criticism of Rust, which is that a lot of existing systems problems-- problems that Rust would be well suited for--are already addressed with large C/C++ codebases. Since it's unlikely you're going to replace Linux, postgres, nginx, etc. it is interesting to ask what systems applications Rust can be used for now, without requiring people to rewrite their applications in Rust or allow Rust code to be mixed in with existing C/C++ code.