Changelog Master Feed Inside Oxide (Changelog & Friends #110)
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Sep 26, 2025 
Cliff Biffle, a firmware engineer at Oxide, discusses the creation of Hubris, a lightweight OS designed for service processors, emphasizing Rust's advantages in firmware. Dave Pacheco, Oxide's engineering lead, reveals the challenges of orchestrating software updates, including self-service options that minimize downtime. Ben Leonard, the design lead, shares insights on Oxide's unique design language, blending nostalgic aesthetics with modern functionality, while maintaining brand consistency across products. Together, they showcase Oxide's innovative culture and engineering prowess.
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From First PCB To Firmware Lead
- Cliff Biffle describes building low-level firmware and designing the first PCB prototype himself before hiring electrical engineers.
- He joined Oxide for the engineering challenge and the team's desire to do things right from the ground up.
Writing Culture As A Force Multiplier
- Oxide's strong writing culture speeds interviews and clarifies decisions through living docs and RFDs.
- Writing early prototypes then documenting lessons helps onboard future teammates and reduce repeated mistakes.
Why Rust For Firmware And Systems
- Oxide favors Rust across low-level firmware for memory and size control, while keeping Helios (Illumos-derived) for host OS C code.
- Rust's compile-time guarantees let them extend systems with confidence and reduce runtime bugs.