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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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One Of The Rust Linux Kernel Maintainers Steps Down - Cites "Nontechnical Nonsense" (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 2 months ago by pnutzh4x0r@lemmy.ndlug.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml

214 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Wedson Almeida Filho is a Microsoft engineer who has been prolific in his contributions to the Rust for the Linux kernel code over the past several years. Wedson has worked on many Rust Linux kernel features and even did a experimental EXT2 file-system driver port to Rust. But he's had enough and is now stepping away from the Rust for Linux efforts.

From Wedon's post on the kernel mailing list:

I am retiring from the project. After almost 4 years, I find myself lacking the energy and enthusiasm I once had to respond to some of the nontechnical nonsense, so it's best to leave it up to those who still have it in them.

...

I truly believe the future of kernels is with memory-safe languages. I am no visionary but if Linux doesn't internalize this, I'm afraid some other kernel will do to it what it did to Unix.

Lastly, I'll leave a small, 3min 30s, sample for context here: https://youtu.be/WiPp9YEBV0Q?t=1529 -- and to reiterate, no one is trying force anyone else to learn Rust nor prevent refactorings of C code."

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[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 67 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (9 children)

There's really only one valid response to Ted Ts'o:

If you think you can do better with C, prove it.

CVE-2024-42304 — crash from undocumented function parameter invariants
CVE-2024-40955 — out of bounds read
CVE-2024-0775 — use-after-free
CVE-2023-2513 — use-after-free
CVE-2023-1252 — use-after-free
CVE-2022-1184 — use-after-free
CVE-2020-14314 — out of bounds read
CVE-2019-19447 — use-after-free
CVE-2018-10879 — use-after-free
CVE-2018-10878 — out of bounds write
CVE-2018-10881 — out of bounds read
CVE-2015-8324 — null pointer dereference
CVE-2014-8086 — race condition
CVE-2011-2493 — call function pointer in uninitialized struct
CVE-2009-0748 — null pointer dereference

[–] WarmApplePieShrek@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (4 children)

How many vulnerabilities have the kernel Rust team introduced in the same time period on the same code?

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Let me know when you find one?

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Memory ownership isn't the only source of vulnerabilities. It's a big issue, sure, but don't think rust code is invulnerable.

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Of course. Rust isn't immune to logic errors, off-by-one mistakes, and other such issues. Nor is it memory safe in unsafe blocks.

Just by virtue of how memory safety issues account for 50%+ of vulnerabilities, it's worth genuinely considering as long as the bindings don't cause maintainability issues.

[–] WarmApplePieShrek@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

The bindings cause maintainability issues. That's the problem.

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