As the Kernel Turns: Rust in Linux saga reaches the “Linus in all-caps” phase
1 min read
Summary
Following Linus Torvalds’s approval of a pull request to add support for Rust code in the Linux kernel in 2022,Rust enthusiasts have been frustrated by delays and blocks on their efforts to introduce the programming language.
Linux Kernel Mailing List has been facing tension over the issue, with Linux leader Greg Kroah-Hartman largely in favour of Rust’s inclusion, but no one being forced to work with it if they prefer continuing to use over 20 years of C code.
Hector Martin, lead of the Asahi Linux project, has recently resigned from the list of Linux maintainers, as well as departing the Asahi project, due to frustrations over implementing Rust in the kernel, citing burnout, although Torvalds has criticised Martin for taking the issue to social media rather than being tolerant enough of the kernel process.
