The Challenges of Rust Libraries: Why They May Never Exist

🔒Rust's features like the borrow checker and runtime access checks make it safer than C for system-level programming.

📚In C, libraries are compiled separately and linked to applications, but in Rust, all dependencies are compiled together, leading to longer compile times and larger binary sizes.

🦀Rust lacks a stable ABI, which hinders interoperability with other languages and makes the creation of libraries complex.

🌐The Rust community is actively discussing the development of a stable ABI to enable the creation of Rust libraries and improve interoperability.

🔬Several proposed solutions, such as the Krabby (crab API), aim to address the lack of a stable ABI in Rust.

Why are Rust libraries currently nonexistent?

—Rust does not have a stable ABI, which is necessary for the creation of libraries. The compilation process in Rust involves bundling all dependencies together, resulting in longer compile times and larger binary sizes.

What are the advantages of Rust over C for system-level programming?

—Rust's features like the borrow checker and runtime access checks make it safer than C. It helps prevent memory-related security vulnerabilities and ensures memory safety.

Are there any ongoing efforts to enable the creation of Rust libraries?

—Yes, the Rust community is actively discussing the development of a stable ABI. Proposed solutions, such as the Krabby (crab API), aim to address the lack of a stable ABI and improve interoperability with other languages.

Do the long compile times and large binary sizes in Rust affect its usability?

—While the long compile times and large binary sizes in Rust can be inconvenient, they are considered trade-offs for the language's safety guarantees. Efforts are being made to optimize the compilation process and reduce these drawbacks.

How can Rust developers work around the absence of libraries?

—Rust developers can use Cargo to manage dependencies and utilize existing crates. Additionally, they can explore alternative solutions proposed by the community, such as using the reer C syntax to create foreign function interfaces for interoperability with other languages.

00:00Rust libraries currently do not exist due to the lack of a stable ABI.

02:19C libraries, like the gnu C library (libc), leverage the ELF ABI to expose functions that can be accessed by other programs.

03:25Rust's unique features and types make defining a stable ABI challenging.

05:39The Rust community is actively discussing the development of a stable ABI, with proposals like Krabby aiming to address the issue.

07:22The absence of libraries in Rust results in longer compile times and larger binary sizes as all dependencies are compiled together.