Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2024 16:43:03 -0600 From: Alan Somers <asomers@freebsd.org> To: "Rein Fernhout (Levitating)" <me@levitati.ng> Cc: Poul-Henning Kamp <phk@phk.freebsd.dk>, freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: It's not Rust, it's FreeBSD (and LLVM) Message-ID: <CAOtMX2hitfPwQ6E0obGxOKg23asEW39roauRdpR6kHoj3zg18w@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <99fe98c0974bc1778e26097eec3fc244@purelymail.com> References: <202409031532.483FW0If007252@critter.freebsd.dk> <99fe98c0974bc1778e26097eec3fc244@purelymail.com>
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On Tue, Sep 3, 2024 at 4:32=E2=80=AFPM Rein Fernhout (Levitating) <me@levitati.ng> wrote: > > I actually think Rust could be an opportunity to modernize the FreeBSD > src. > > But if it is decided that no utilities found in FreeBSD will be eligible > for a Rust rewrite then I don't see why it should be part of src. > > I do think Rust is mature enough for adoption into src. These > discussions have been riddled with misconceptions about Rust (and its > use in the Linux kernel). > > Each FreeBSD release could just pin a stable release of the Rust > toolchain, it is common for Rust projects to have a Minimum Supported > Rust Version (MSRV). > Also Rust does have an extremely strong ecosystem. It includes gems like > the Serde serialization framework and the Clap argument parser. > > I would personally like to potentially see parts of FreeBSD rewritten in > rust. > I think it would invite much more contributors in the long term. > However I don't see rust rewrites happen anytime soon. And if we only > allow new programs in Rust to enter src then I don't think it is worth > the burden of supporting a rust toolchain (and its dependencies). +1. We have some utilities of subpar quality that could benefit from a rewrite, even if it must be in C. But it would be easier and less buggy to rewrite them in Rust. As a programmer fluent in both languages, I'm never going to waste my time writing new software (or rewriting old software) in C unless there's a very very good reason. However, the "only new utilities in Rust" limitation isn't completely useless, if it gives us the confidence to allow rewrites later on. -Alan
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