this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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This is a weird take. Rust is very popular and is the current heir apparent to C for systems level stuff. It's a great choice to start a new DE/toolkit.
As for the rest, you're right the end user doesn't care about the language their graphical app is in, but the developers fielding their bug reports and making fixes/features sure do.
And developers who get familiar and easy tools such as cargo, rust-analyzer and all the popular libraries working in any Cosmic project in about five minutes. And the compiler will tell you if you managed to make memory errors or data races in a very clear way. Always the same way.
You learn Rust and its tools once, and you can just jump into any of these projects and be productive.
And yes, scripting language is needed for Cosmic at some point. There are a ton of them, from RHAI to different lisps to python to javascript. Plug and play, and the interop is easy and fast.
Rust is very hyped, but it's not very popular, the TIOBE index has it at 1.5% coming in #14. Which is paltry in comparison to Python, C and C++.
As for whether or not it will replace C in systems, time will tell.
TIOBE is weighted toward languages that have existed for a long time by virtue of counting lines written / skilled engineers etc. but the speed at which Rust is climbing that list is a better indicator. Also, a lot of the languages above it wouldn't be appropriate for anything like a DE.
But you're right, it's hyped, I just think the hype is real.
Yep, windows kernel has a ton of Rust code already, even some of its syscalls are made in Rust. Linux kernel is getting a new GPU driver for NVIDIA written in Rust, and GPU driver for removed M-series also written in Rust. removed is hiring Rust devs, so is Amazon, Meta, Google...
In the startup space it's been quite good with Rust for some time. I've been writing production code with it for almost a decade. It is not a fad anymore.
A productive, safe, fast and fun language to write with excellent tooling, and we are just getting started.