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Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

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Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#21

Post by 0xdeafbeef »

raluk wrote: post #12

What are protental issues with compiler, by just disabling borrow checker? If I recall correctly some compiler optimisations for rust can not be done in C/C++ because of restrictions implied by borrow checker.

Rust can set restricts to all pointers, because 1 mut xor many shared refs rule. Borrow checker empowers this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrict

Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#23

Post by Philpax »

w4rh4wk5 wrote: post #19

I am wondering whether this would actually be a helpful compile option in upstream rustc for quick prototyping. I don't want prod code to use this, but if I want to try things out during development, this could substantially shorten the dev cycle.

After a while, you just don't write code that would cause substantial borrow-checker problems, even when prototyping. I'd say the slow compile times are much more of an impediment for a practicing Rust prototyper than the borrow checker.

Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#25

Post by dataflow »

This can't possibly be guaranteed to work just by disabling the checker, can it? If Rust optimizes based on borrow-checker assumptions (which I understand it can and does) then wouldn't violating them be UB, unless you also mess with the compiler to disable those optimizations?

Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#26

Post by bananaflag »

gspr wrote: post #11

Tangentially related: the opposite, Rust's borrow checker sans the compiler, is actually very useful. As far as I understand, the borrow checker is a significant part of the work of writing a Rust compiler. Therefore, having the official borrow checker available as a standalone program can make alternative compilers (e.g. for exotic hardware) feasible faster, because they won't need a borrow checker of their own from…

I get your point, but still you haven't identified a use for the borrow checker sans the compiler.

Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#28

Post by hoppp »

hacker_homie wrote: post #24

I wish I could make the borrow checker give warnings not errors. It would make exploration so much easier, so I don’t have to fight the borrow checker until I know how to build what I want.

Then you have code full of warnings and undefined behavior?

I think fighting the borrow checker is more like a rite of passage. Rust is not my favorite language but the borrow checker is great.

Re: Rust--: Rust without the borrow checker

#29

Post by jokoon »

To me it feels like rust is barely readable sometimes. When I read some rust cost, I am often incapable to guess what it does, so it does not feel intuitive.

I wish they made something simpler. At least C and C++ have a low barrier of entry and any beginner can write code.

I don't think the borrow checker forced rust to be such a complicated language.

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