Hi, On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 09:51:41PM -1000, Brent W. Baccala wrote:
> I've been thinking more about the data structures involved with the new > libpager code, and they're complex enough that I'd like to write them in > C++11. Yay, flamebait! ;-) Two years ago, I would have said something along these lines: C++ does certainly have some strong point; but at the same time it's a very ugly language, which is not universally considered an improvement. Even *if* we agreed it was slightly better all in all, it's probably not worth the costs. But that was two years ago. Today my reply is: why even consider C++, when there is Rust? Rust offers the same level of efficiency; about the same level of expressiveness (I'd say higher, but I might be biased); much, *much* better safety; and while the initial learning curve is a bit steep, it doesn't have any of the hidden complexity and countless pitfalls. Rust's slogan is, "fast, reliable, productive: pick three" -- and it delivers. I honestly believe it is a game-changer; and in my opinion the Hurd would do good to start using Rust sooner rather than later. It would gain a major edge: not only from the inherent productivity boost; but also from increased attractiveness to developers. While the Hurd wouldn't be the first operating system employing Rust, it would be (to the best of my knowledge) the first general-purpose system to employ Rust as a tool to meet its own unique goals, rather than just "it's written in Rust" as the *only* selling point. There is just one little problem right now: Rust hasn't been ported to the Hurd yet. Whoopsie... ;-) -antrik-
