On Wed, Oct 2, 2024 at 11:16 AM Patrick Steinhardt <ps@xxxxxx> wrote: > We're contemplating whether to eventually replace our build systems with > a build system that is easier to use. Add a comparison of build systems > to our technical documentation as a baseline for discussion. > > Signed-off-by: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@xxxxxx> > --- > +=== Rust support > + > +Many long-time Git contributors are nowadays in favor of adopting Rust as a > +second language next to C. The build system SHOULD thus support Rust such that > +we do not have to reopen the discussion once we decide to pick up Rust. I've been watching the Rust discussion mostly from the sidelines, so it's possible that I've missed something, but I was more than a little surprised to see the claim that "Many long-time Git contributors [are] in favor of adopting Rust" since my impression of the discussions does not reflect that claim, nor could I find sufficient references to support such a strong statement. My understanding of the situation is rather different; I've seen both proponents and opponents. With regards to project regulars... * The most vocal proponent has been brian who gives the impression of being quite a fan of Rust, but hasn't provided particularly compelling reasons to adopt it, and some of his arguments are highly subjective (for instance, "Rust excels at multithreading"[1]; while it's true that Rust may make multithreading safer, it is highly subjective to say that it "excels" at it -- especially, for instance, for anyone familiar with Go's approach to the same subject). * The Google team is interested in having a Rust wrapper for core Git library[2], but that doesn't imply or require adopting Rust into the Git project itself. * Randall has severe misgivings[3] about Rust being introduced into the project due to its exclusionary nature with regards to the platform(s) he supports. * At least one well-established contributor has stated[4] that "Rust scares" him. (Possibly this was said somewhat in jest, but I suspect the feeling may be shared by more than a few long-time Git contributors who see Rust as an overly complex, complicated, and convoluted language but who haven't spoken up because they understand that the programming world in general is moving toward more modern languages such as Rust and Go.) * The only properly compelling arguments I've seen in favor of adopting Rust came from Elijah[5,6] who is always well-spoken, well-reasoned, thorough, and backs up his statements with plenty of factual evidence. Those aside, I don't recall seeing any other long-time Git contributors speak up in favor of adopting Rust. [1]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/ZrqJM-vmPaJbdHP2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/ [2]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/cover.1723054623.git.steadmon@xxxxxxxxxx/ [3]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/053f01db0b79$0d885b30$28991190$@nexbridge.com/ [4]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/Zu2D%2Fb1ZJbTlC1ml@nand.local/ [5]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/CABPp-BFWsWCGogqQ=haMsS4OhOdSwc3frcAxa6soQR5ORTceOA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/ [6]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/CABPp-BFOmwV-xBtjvtenb6RFz9wx2VWVpTeho0k=D8wsCCVwqQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/
