Rustacean Station
Rust in Google with Lars Bergstrom
Dec 27, 2024
Lars Bergstrom, Director of Engineering at Google, shares invaluable insights about Rust's integration into Android, impacting over 3 billion devices. He delves into the challenges of using Rust for memory safety and security within a fragmented ecosystem. The conversation highlights performance-critical applications, the debate between LLVM and GCC compilers, and the necessity of source code access for software security. As corporate adoption of Rust grows, Lars emphasizes the importance of strong open-source relationships to enhance support for this innovative language.
42:12
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Quick takeaways
- Rust is being integrated into Android to enhance security by replacing legacy C++ components and mitigating memory safety vulnerabilities.
- The fragmentation in the Android ecosystem poses challenges for device updates, despite industry efforts to extend support and reduce e-waste.
Deep dives
The Role of Rust in Android's Security Improvements
Rust is increasingly adopted within Android for improving security, particularly due to its potential to eliminate memory safety vulnerabilities. The Android security team recognized that most security defects occur in new code, prompting the initiative to replace some legacy C++ components with Rust. This strategic shift not only enhances the security posture by mitigating common vulnerabilities but also aims to remove the overhead caused by isolating untrusted libraries in separate processes. By integrating Rust, Android seeks to maintain performance while ensuring that new code is more resilient against attacks.
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