this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2024
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Here's what I think. Both opinions are correct.
Rust is sufficiently different that you cannot expect C developers to learn rust to the level they have mastered C in order to be working at the kernel level. It's not going to happen.
I don't really know too much about rust. Maybe one day I'll actually mess around with it. But the one time I looked at a rust git repo I couldn't even find where the code to do a thing was. It's just different enough to be problematic that way.
So I think probably, the best way IS to go the way linus did. Just go ahead and write a very basic working kernel in rust. If the project is popular it will gain momentum.
Trying to slowly adapt parts of the kernel to rust and then complain when long term C developers don't want to learn a new language in order to help isn't going to make many friends on that team.
But that's the thing where you are wrong. They clearly state they don't want C developers to learn Rust. In the particular video posted he was saying "I want you to explain to me how this particular API works so that I can do it"
The concerns about who fixes what on a merge when the C code breaks Rust code are valid, but that's easily fixed by gathering with the Rust developers, explaining the changes and letting them fix it.
You could alternatively phrase "But that's the thing where you are wrong" as "But here's the crux of why I disagree", it's a bit more personable
I see your point, but in this case I feel OP was misinterpreting the situation