Rust Kernel Policy

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The current discussions surrounding the integration of Rust into the Linux kernel highlight a significant amount of contention among kernel developers. There is criticism directed at Linus Torvalds, the Linux kernel's creator, regarding his communication and leadership in managing the adoption of Rust. Developers express concerns over the stability and maturity of Rust as a programming language suitable for kernel development, comparing its complexity to languages like Haskell. The Rust version policies and how they interact with established C practices in the kernel are particularly contentious. Several kernel developers are opposed to mixing different compilers (GCC and Clang) due to compatibility issues, while others believe that distributions will continue using GCC for consistency, despite newer Rust drivers. The lack of clarity and consistency in the Rust for Linux policy documents leads to confusion about authority and decision-making processes. Many maintainers feel overwhelmed by the proposal of integrating Rust into an ecosystem historically rooted in C, and there's worry about potential backlash or loss of contributors if the situation remains unresolved. Overall, while some see value in Rust for alignment and modern programming practices, many fear it may be a step too far too soon for the Linux kernel community.
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