Rust Is Ready with Robust Toolchain Handling for Linux 6.11

Miguel Ojeda has submitted a significant Rust pull request for the upcoming Linux 6.11 release, marking a key development in integrating the Rust programming language into the Linux kernel. This update establishes a minimum Rust toolchain version, which will streamline the process of building Rust kernel code across various Linux distributions without the need for constant updates to the Rust compiler. The initial minimum version includes three stable Rust releases: 1.78.0, 1.79.0, and 1.80.0, along with beta and nightly versions. This change is expected to benefit developers using distributions that regularly provide updated Rust compiler versions, such as Arch Linux, Fedora, and Gentoo.

Additionally, the kernel will now undergo build-testing with Rust's pre-merge continuous integration (CI) system, ensuring that any changes to the Rust compiler do not inadvertently break kernel functionality. The Rust project aims to achieve stable Rust kernel integration as one of its primary goals for the second half of 2024. Alongside these developments, the driver core updates for Linux 6.11 include Rust bindings for basic firmware APIs, facilitating the creation of more effective Rust kernel drivers. Overall, these enhancements reflect a concerted effort to improve Rust's role within the Linux kernel ecosystem, promoting stability and usability for developers.