Rust for Linux Revisited

Drew DeVault revisits the Rust-for-Linux project, reflecting on its progress and challenges over the past two years. Initially skeptical about Rust's integration into the Linux kernel, DeVault acknowledges the dedication and talent of the developers involved. However, he highlights the difficulties of achieving consensus within the Linux community, which can lead to burnout among contributors. The project faces significant political hurdles, as each subsystem has its own culture and maintainers, complicating the introduction of Rust. DeVault suggests that instead of continuing to navigate these challenges, a motivated group could create a new Linux-compatible kernel from scratch using Rust, avoiding the political complexities of the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML). He believes that such a project could attract contributors and yield rapid progress, especially if it focuses on compatibility with existing Linux designs. DeVault emphasizes the potential for this new initiative to mentor a new generation of developers skilled in Rust, ultimately benefiting the broader operating system development landscape. He concludes by encouraging those feeling burned out to consider this alternative path as a rewarding recovery project.

- The Rust-for-Linux project faces significant political and consensus challenges within the Linux community.

- Developer burnout is a common issue due to the complexities of integrating Rust into the Linux kernel.

- DeVault proposes creating a new Linux-compatible kernel in Rust as an alternative to the current project.

- A focused project could attract contributors and lead to rapid development without LKML politics.

- Such an initiative could also serve as a mentorship opportunity for new developers in the Rust ecosystem.