Linux @lemmy.world mesamune @lemmy.world 10h ago

Ubuntu Will Replace GNU Core Utilities With Rust

tube.archworks.co Ubuntu Will Replace GNU Core Utilities With Rust

In this video I discuss Ubuntu's decision to switch to using rust implementations of the core utilities (mkdir, ls, cat, etc...) and what it could mean for the broader Linux ecosystem. My merch is ...

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I can finally stop calling it GNU/Linux.
- Rust/linux^Rust
  
  Lust
  
  Oh good God, Linux is finally old enough to start rusting?! And on BOTH ENDS?
  
  vigorously shakes can of WD-40
That's extremely unexpected.
- The GNU utils weren't written by Canonical so they were doomed from the start.
  
  Not to worry, they'll ship 'em via snap.
- Why?
  
  Because why? I can expect a very niche distro like Cachy do it but not a big project with a serious market share.
Wait is this their way to break compatibility with old binaries so that you're forced to use snap?
- The uutils should be compatible so I don't think so
- I don't think so unless they make their own rust core utils.
Is there any actual benefit ?
- Code written in Rust has been shown to have significantly fewer security vulnerabilities than code written in C. Distributions like Ubuntu ship a lot of security updates, so by switching to Rust-based utils, they can reduce their workload in the long run.
  
  Ubuntu ship a lot of security updates
  
  After introducing the Pro I don't think so.
  
  There's probably some zero day exploit someone is holding onto until everything is rust and then, bam!
- Just security and hype afaik.
- It's been proven faster. That's all I personally know.
  
  Nothing except for binary coding can be faster than C I think.
This is the Linux community's Sophie's choice.
Ubuntu continues to show that it's the absolute worst.

30 comments