Rust in Production

Niko Matsakis, a key figure in the Rust community and Senior Principal Engineer at AWS, shares his incredible journey with Rust, from its inception at Mozilla to its current status. He discusses pivotal concepts like ownership and borrowing, and their role in shaping the language. The conversation dives into Rust's growth, its remarkable libraries, and the challenges of building an async ecosystem. Niko reflects on the 2018 edition's transition, Rust's versatility in modern tech, and the vital importance of community collaboration in the language's evolution.

In this conversation with Charlie Marsh, the Founder and CEO of Astral, we dive into the evolution of Python tooling and how Rust is reshaping the landscape. Charlie shares insights on Astral's mission to unify and enhance the Python ecosystem through innovative tools like UV and Ruff. He discusses the complexities of package management, the challenges of async programming, and the journey of developing a custom Python parser in Rust. Expect engaging stories and practical tips that illustrate the synergy between these programming languages.

Tom Hacohen, Founder and CEO of Svix, dives into the world of webhooks, unraveling their complexities and importance for businesses. He discusses how Svix tackles reliability and security in webhook management, sharing insights on the evolution of their service driven by user feedback. Tom contrasts Rust and Python for startups, emphasizing Rust's reliability and maintenance benefits. He also touches on the challenges of transitioning applications from Python to Rust, memory management intricacies, and the significance of stability in systems during periods of rapid growth.

Victor Ciura is a veteran C++ developer who worked on Visual C++ and the Clang Power Tools. In this first episode of season 4, we talk to him about large-scale Rust adoption at Microsoft.Victor works as a Principal Engineer on the Rust team in Microsoft's Developer Division, building the compiler toolchain and libraries needed for the broader Rust efforts across the organization. He is a regular speaker at conferences like CPPCon and also spoke at EuroRust 2024.We talk about Microsoft's first steps with Rust, widespread implementation across key products and services, and Hyrum's Law.About MicrosoftMicrosoft is a company that needs no further introduction. From Windows to Azure, Microsoft has a wide range of products and services. A while ago, Microsoft started an initiative to bring Rust into core parts of their ecosystem.About Victor CiuraVictor is a well-known C++ expert leading Microsoft's Rust adoption efforts. His work focuses on ensuring Rust interoperates with existing C++ codebases and integrating the Rust compiler and toolchain into the Microsoft ecosystem.Proudly Supported by CodeCraftersCodeCrafters helps you become proficient in Rust by building real-world, production-grade projects. Learn hands-on by creating your own shell, HTTP server, Redis, Kafka, Git, SQLite, or DNS service from scratch. Start for free today and enjoy 40% off any paid plan by using this link. Links From The EpisodeVictor's EuroRust 2024 Talk - Victor's presentation on Microsoft's Rust adoption journeyTockOS - Embedded operating system written in RustGoogle's Fuchsia - Google's open-source operating system with Rust componentsMu - Open Source UEFI implementation in RustCaliptra - Hardware Root of Trust implementationAzure Cloud HSM - Hardware Security Module using RustHyperV - Microsoft's HypervisorGoogle Security Study on using Rust - Research on memory safety improvementsCOM - The "grandfather of all inter-op technology"Direct Write Core - Microsoft's text rendering implementation in RustHyrum's Law - Your users will end up depending on all of your observable internal behaviorLWN Article: Rust/Linux fallout - Discussion about Rust integration into the Linux kernelclippy - Static Analyzer for Rust codeABI Resilience - Victor's talk at Rust Nation UKMSBuild - Microsoft's build toolMiri - An interpreter for Rust's mid-level intermediate representationOfficial LinksMicrosoft Rust DocumentationVictor Ciura's BlogVictor Ciura on BlueskyVictor Ciura on MastodonMicrosoft Rust Articles

Steve Klabnik, a key contributor to the Rust programming language and a member of Oxide, joins to discuss the rapid integration of Rust into various industries. He highlights how Rust is replacing legacy systems, particularly in automotive and safety-critical sectors. Klabnik addresses the challenges of using Rust in game development and the push for its adoption over languages like Golang for safety and security. The conversation also touches on the nuances of transitioning from legacy code and anticipates the future of Rust in tech, including its relevance in embedded systems.

Julius Gustavsson, System Architect at Volvo Cars and lead for the LPA project, dives into Volvo's groundbreaking use of Rust in their Electronic Control Units. He details the journey from 2018 to implementing a low-power processor, discussing both the excitement and skepticism in the industry. The conversation covers the integration of hardware abstraction layers, the challenges of migrating from C to Rust, and the development of a software bill of materials for compliance. Gustavsson also highlights the importance of collaboration with external experts to navigate these complex innovations.

Anton Lazarev, a Senior Software Engineer at Brave, is known for developing rust-based solutions and his customizable split keyboard project. In this discussion, he explains how Brave's privacy-first ad-blocker leverages Rust for optimal performance. He shares insights on overcoming challenges in browser constraints, parallelizing CSS parsing, and enhancing filter list capabilities. Anton also details the transition from C++ to Rust, emphasizing the benefits of memory safety and innovative development, all while exploring the future potential of Rust in browser technology.

In this festive discussion, hosts reflect on a year of growth with 18 inspiring guests. They advocate for a welcoming Rust community, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Insights on enhancing compile times in Rust highlight upcoming improvements for efficiency. Engaging in open source contributions is celebrated as a way to make a real-world impact. The conversation wraps up with a look at community challenges, software security, and an optimistic view of Rust's innovative future.

In this insightful discussion, Jessie Frazelle, CEO of Zoo and a former engineer at Microsoft, Docker, and Google, shares her vision for transforming hardware design tools. She highlights the shortcomings of current CAD tools and how Zoo aims to modernize these processes using Rust. The conversation touches on migrating from C++ to Rust, the challenges and advantages of Rust for software reliability, and the chaotic yet thrilling life of startup innovation. Frazelle also reflects on the importance of user-friendly code generation and the role of automation in hardware development.

Scott Chacon, co-founder of GitButler and former GitHub co-founder, and Kiril Videlov, CTO with a rich fintech background, discuss making version control simpler. They share how they are building a modern Git client aimed at enhancing developer interactions, akin to Google Docs. The duo elaborates on their use of Rust, the challenges of optimizing Git's functionalities, and the balance between functional and object-oriented programming. They also share laughs about their dad joke culture, emphasizing a lighthearted team atmosphere.