Asahi Linux lead developer Hector Martin resigns from Linux kernel

Post by tsimionescu » Sat, Feb 08, 2025, 1:43 PM UTC

chikere232 wrote: post #642

tsimionescu wrote: post #565

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Other than that, it's not a binary yes/no question; no one is really against some Rust in some parts of the kernel, but which parts? How? Where? That's the big disagreement. Linus has always been fairly hands-off on these types of disagreements. Some Kernel maintainers are absolutely against Rust anywhere in the kernel tree [0]: > The only reason Linux managed to survive so long is by not having internal boundaries…

It's not without merit. Two languages is an extreme cost in complexity compared to one, and you have to be a deep expert in both to fully figure out anything on the boundary. Perhaps rusts potential benefits are worth it, but it's certainly possible to disagree with that

Post by devit » Sat, Feb 08, 2025, 1:49 PM UTC

steveklabnik wrote: post #344

caspper69 wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't downvote you, but I think you have a misunderstanding of a couple of things that are clouding your judgement: (1) the sheer size & inertia of the Linux kernel; there are tens of millions of lines of code, and even thinking about integrating another language will take time- lots of it; and (2) the distributed nature of its development and the diversity of its engineers; the community is not one that can be br…

> he is still beholden to all those downstream developers that rely on the Rust DMA wrapper's functionality, because if he breaks their code, he knows it'll cause a shitstorm. It is the explicit policy of the project, and was repeated in the thread, that the Rust folks are solely responsible for fixing any breakage. There will be no shitstorm.

Post by bbkane » Sat, Feb 08, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

coliveira wrote: post #757

preisschild wrote: post #655

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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.

Post by mrits » Sat, Feb 08, 2025, 2:06 PM UTC

quelsolaar wrote: post #265

gary_0 wrote: post #27

The Rust drama is an uncommon failure of leadership for Torvalds. Instead of decisively saying "no, never" or "yes, make it so," he has consistently equivocated on the Rust issue. Given the crisis of confidence among a sizeable (and very vocal) contingent of the Linux community, that decision has backfired horribly. And it's quite out of character for Linus not to have a blazingly clear opinion. (We all know his stan…

The policy of "No C++, because I don't want to deal with C++ people", should be extended to the Rust community. Whatever you think of the merits of the Rust language, the drama, the lecturing and the general superiority complex of the Rust community is quite off putting, at least to C developers.

Post by mrits » Sat, Feb 08, 2025, 2:08 PM UTC

J_Shelby_J wrote: post #638

coliveira wrote: post #508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Then make it so, so that we can RWIR, and Linux can fade into the sunset with Linus.