Is there an email thread where c and rust Linux kernel devs actually discuss what's about? Because so far I see some Linux drama and I have no slightest clue what's about
Adding rust to a massive mature C project that targets lots of architectures and has many contributors is a difficult process. If it succeeds it is going to take a lot more time and patience.
One detail about Rust in the kernel that often gets overlooked: the Linux kernel supports arches to which Rust has never been ported. Most of these are marginal (hppa, alpha, m68k—itanium was also on this list), but there are people out there who still use them and may be concerned about their future. As long as Rust remains in device drivers only this isn't a major issue, but if it penetrates further into the kernel, these arches will have to be desupported.
(Gentoo has a special profile "feature" called "wd40" for these arches, which is how I was aware of their lack of Rust support. It's interesting to look at the number and types of packages it masks. Lotta python there, and it looks like gnome is effectively a no-go.)
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.
Not an expert in both the languages but I heard that C developers are trained to use memory smartly, sometimes even reuse a range of allocated memory for completely different purpose to save cycles freeing and reallocating. But for Rust developers, everything is about making sure when one should get the hand away from the memory, and whose memory is allowed to be touched.
Sounds to me like sharing rides that maximise economically but we may have some oops moments sitting on someone's laps vs absolute private rides to make sure no one in your family will be harmed but we have to make sure everyone gets a car only when needed.
It is quite interesting to see how it will work out eventually...
part of the problem is that old-time kernel developers are used to C and don't know Rust," Torvalds said. "They're not exactly excited about having to learn a new language that is, in some respects, very different. So there's been some pushback on Rust."
Linus hit the nail on the head. If you've been a Kernel dev for a decade or more, and have spent decades learning the ins and outs of C, why would you want to switch to something that is similar, but different in a lot of ways, just because a small subset of devs think it's the best way forward? Let them handle Rust and the majority of devs will keep using C, even though Rust is objectively better.
As one of the other quotes suggested: fork the kernel project and rewrite it entirely in Rust, that way there isn't any push back from the C devs. Replacing C with Rust in the upstream kernel is akin to replacing the engine in a car while it's running or being used every day.
Developers who are not willing to learn something new and not adapt are the worst. Besides that, nobody is forced to learn Rust, only those who want to work on Rust parts.
The rust community is its own worst enemy. The political infighting and constant compulsion to shit on other languages is a turn off to many, and there are plenty of applications where memory safety is not the highest priority.