The host shares a fresh perspective on Rust build times, revealing insights into the Cargo tool's impact. They dive into the competitive landscape of software linkers, discussing Apple's innovations and their repercussions. As they unpack Rust's development complexities, they detail challenges with incremental builds and crate management. The conversation also highlights the nuances of Rust's compiler architectures, comparing incremental and batch compilation. Listeners will discover practical solutions and new tools to enhance Rust project performance.
Amos highlights the unexpected increase in Rust build times due to the significant growth in generated code sizes from macros.
The discussion emphasizes the need for developers to continuously evaluate their linker choices as Apple enhances its linker performance.
Deep dives
Understanding Rust Build Times
The discussion focuses on the misconceptions around build times in Rust, particularly addressing the impact of generated code. Amos reveals that he previously underestimated the processing times associated with Rust's `cargo` build system, particularly when inspecting generated code sizes. By using tools like `cargo expand`, he discovered that certain macros generated vastly larger code outputs than originally anticipated, with examples illustrating code swelling from 2000 lines to over 54,000 lines after expansion. This insight led to a broader examination of the implications of proc macros on build performance, emphasizing the importance of monitoring generated code volume.
Linker Performance and Competing Options
The conversation highlights the evolution of linker performance, especially in light of Apple’s improvements to their linker, which rendered third-party alternatives like MOLD less relevant. Amos discusses how performance gains from Apple's developments affected the usage of alternate linkers, suggesting that developers need to reassess their linker choices based on these changes. The episode progresses to mention Rust's integration of its own LLD linker and the dynamics of optimizing build processes found in the Rust landscape. This discussion underscores the necessity of evaluating tools continuously as technological advances shift the development landscape.
Challenges with Incremental Builds in CI
The podcast delves into the complications of implementing incremental builds in CI workflows, where the difficulties arise from managing cache sizes and restoring states effectively. Amos discusses how CI systems often struggle with cache management since builds can end up requiring substantial storage, complicating workflows. He notes that while local builds benefit from incremental compilation, CI environments face unique challenges that can hinder their effectiveness. The conversation surfaces the need for innovative solutions to enhance incremental build strategies within CI contexts, suggesting that persistent worker models might be a viable approach to overcoming these hurdles.
Thank you to Tweede golf for sponsoring this episode. Tweede golf is a Rust consultancy from the Netherlands. Reach out to them if you need help building software in Rust, embedded or otherwise, or to book a training to get your teams up to speed on topics like using async on bare metal systems.
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