More Rust in Linux + Pressure on Microsoft + Updates
This YouTube video covers several key developments in the Linux world:
Security and Open Source Advocacy:
- Removal of insecure Microsoft RNDIS drivers from the Linux kernel: A major Linux kernel developer successfully patched the kernel to disable the RNDIS protocol, citing inherent security vulnerabilities and obsolescence. This improves Linux security.
- Free Software Foundation’s pressure on Microsoft: The FSF is advocating for a boycott of Microsoft platforms and software (including GitHub), urging users to switch to open-source alternatives like Linux to counter Microsoft’s influence and promote software freedom. They highlight concerns about Windows 11’s TPM module and forced upgrades.
Significant Project Rewrites:
- Fish shell’s complete rewrite from C++ to Rust: A 20-year-old project, Fish shell, successfully transitioned its entire codebase from C++ to Rust. This involved significant challenges but resulted in improved performance, thread safety, and maintainability. The video details the reasons for choosing Rust and the incremental approach used for the port.
- Bottles’ complete rewrite incorporating Rust: The popular Bottles application (for running Windows software on Linux) is undergoing a complete rewrite using Rust, libCosmic (from System76), and other technologies. This aims to improve performance and address community concerns.
C++ Safety Improvements:
- Safe C++ initiative: The video discusses a new initiative (“Safe C++”) aiming to bring Rust-like memory safety features to C++ using Clang, offering stricter safety checks without breaking compatibility with standard C++.
Other Notable Updates:
- Darktable 3.0 RC2 release: The latest release candidate of Darktable (photo editing software) includes numerous bug fixes and improvements, addressing issues like missing fonts on macOS.
- GNOME image viewer updates: The GNOME desktop environment’s image viewer has finally received long-awaited features like cropping, rotating, and flipping images.
In short, the video highlights a trend towards increased security in Linux, a push for open-source adoption, and the significant adoption of Rust as a more memory-safe and performant alternative to C++. Several major projects are undergoing substantial rewrites to leverage these improvements.