Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:59:39 +0000 From: Lorenzo Salvadore <salvadore@FreeBSD.org> To: doc-committers@FreeBSD.org, dev-commits-doc-all@FreeBSD.org Cc: Ayrto=?utf-8?Q?n Mu=C3=B1o?=z <a.munoz3327@gmail.com> Subject: git: a27569e15a - main - Status/2025Q4/kernel_rust.adoc: Add report Message-ID: <6967a14b.46da3.26b5a189@gitrepo.freebsd.org>
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The branch main has been updated by salvadore: URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/doc/commit/?id=a27569e15a1f400e2913829fb0cae2b98642cc1e commit a27569e15a1f400e2913829fb0cae2b98642cc1e Author: Ayrton Muñoz <a.munoz3327@gmail.com> AuthorDate: 2026-01-10 12:48:49 +0000 Commit: Lorenzo Salvadore <salvadore@FreeBSD.org> CommitDate: 2026-01-14 13:59:18 +0000 Status/2025Q4/kernel_rust.adoc: Add report Differential Revision: https://reviews.freebsd.org/D54392 --- .../status/report-2025-10-2025-12/kernel_rust.adoc | 33 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 33 insertions(+) diff --git a/website/content/en/status/report-2025-10-2025-12/kernel_rust.adoc b/website/content/en/status/report-2025-10-2025-12/kernel_rust.adoc new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..a186ad8831 --- /dev/null +++ b/website/content/en/status/report-2025-10-2025-12/kernel_rust.adoc @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +=== Kernel Rust Support + +Links: + +link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-kpi-rs[rust KPI repository] URL: link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-kpi-rs[] + +link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-src/tree/virtio_snd[virtio sound rust driver] URL: link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-src/tree/virtio_snd[] + +Contact: Ayrton Muñoz <a.munoz3327@gmail.com> + +I have been adding support for using rust in the kernel and writing device drivers with it. +Rust is a good tool for taking existing rules about how pointers may be used and enforcing them with the type system. +These rules are often implicit in C meaning additional mental bookkeeping for developers. +Rust will not prevent every bug, but it lets developers avoid some of this and focus more on implementing the functionality they care about. + +The rust KPIs are currently under development and not very stable, but there is no dependency on the wider rust ecosystem or unstable language features/APIs. +This means that they should eventually be able to provide as much stability as equivalent C KPIs and upgrading to newer rust toolchains should not introduce breakage. +It also provides as much transparency as C about when allocations happen since it uses a non-allocating subset of the link:https://doc.rust-lang.org/core/[rust standard library]. +Different kernel subsystems will require rust wrappers, but these can build off of the base functionality provided in the rust KPI repository. + +I have been experimenting on and off with this since late 2024 and development mainly happens in my rust KPI repository. +This repository also has makefiles and patches for man:config[8]/build system integration. +The easiest driver for developers to build and try themselves is my link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-src/tree/virtio_snd[virtio sound driver]. +Some interfaces it uses are in flux, but the driver is functional enough for music playback in link:https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/system/devices/virtio/virtio-snd.html[QEMU]. +That branch also includes rust wrappers that may be reused for other virtio devices or sound/PCM drivers. + +Only x86-64 and aarch64 are currently supported. +Other architectures supported by LLVM can be added if there is interest, but I wanted to initially focus on just a few use-cases. +Aside from QEMU I have also been testing rust drivers on hardware with some drivers for link:https://github.com/ayrtonm/freebsd-src/tree/apple[ARM64 Apple machines]. +This was the initial use-case and involves taking some WIP drivers I started helping with in 2024 and porting the greenfield parts to rust. +This is mostly low-level drivers, but also includes the DockChannel HID driver for the keyboard on the M2 MacBook. + +At some point in early 2026 the rust KPIs should be stable enough for interested developers to try writing new code with them. +They will not be perfect, but I want to make sure they work roughly like existing drivers expect and also fit the expectations of rust developers before asking for testers. +Hopefully the Apple drivers will be back up to parity with the initial WIP in C in the first half of 2026 as well.home | help
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