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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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Are there any advantages of using Rust instead of C in the Linux kernel? (self.linux)

submitted 1 year ago by BearPear to c/[email protected]

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Will there be performance and security improvements?

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Security? Probably. I wouldn't expect any measurable improvements to performance but the with compiler being able to do more checks it might enable some clever optimization trickery that would be harder to maintain in C.

Still, Rust on the kernel probably won't leave the realm of drivers any time soon, so it all depends on if you have the hardware that will use a driver written in Rust.

[–] Daybowbow 32 points 1 year ago

Also to add: allowing Rust can bring in more developers to the kernel, given the growing popularity.