this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Following arguments on the Linux kernel mailing list the past few days over some Linux kernel maintainers being against the notion of Rust code in the mainline Linux kernel and trying to avoid it and very passionate views over the Linux kernel development process, Asahi Linux lead developer Hector Martin has removed himself from being an upstream maintainer of the ARM Apple code.

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[–] [email protected] -5 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

The kernel developers should Come up with a memory safe version of C for developing on the kernel. Kind of like how Git was created.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 15 hours ago

They kind of already do. The C used by the kernel team isn't the exact same as what everyone else uses. Mainly because of the tooling they've built around it. I can't remember specifics, but the tooling in place really helps out in that department.

Also, "memory safe C" is already a proposal for the C lang project.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 16 hours ago
[–] [email protected] -4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Rust is already as fast as C and memory safe. The reasons people don't want it in the kernel basically amount to being a boomer that doesn't like new things for immaterial reasons. Rust has already proven itself capable in mission-critical applications like drivers.