Re: [RFC PATCH 01/21] Documentation: add comparison of build systems

From: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
Date: Oct 7, 2024, 10:17 UTC
Message-ID: <ZwO1SVCHym34yGe2@pks.im>
In-Reply-To: <CAPig+cQtxx=fQM2xHSt8AsxyWgjSiS9Kd5PtjA+jDoK5s9xh4A@mail.gmail.com>

On Wed, Oct 02, 2024 at 04:24:10PM -0400, Eric Sunshine wrote:

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> On Wed, Oct 2, 2024 at 11:16 AM Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im> wrote:
> > We're contemplating whether to eventually replace our build systems with
> > a build system that is easier to use. Add a comparison of build systems
> > to our technical documentation as a baseline for discussion.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
> > ---
> > +=== Rust support
> > +
> > +Many long-time Git contributors are nowadays in favor of adopting Rust as a
> > +second language next to C. The build system SHOULD thus support Rust such that
> > +we do not have to reopen the discussion once we decide to pick up Rust.
> 
> I've been watching the Rust discussion mostly from the sidelines, so
> it's possible that I've missed something, but I was more than a little
> surprised to see the claim that "Many long-time Git contributors [are]
> in favor of adopting Rust" since my impression of the discussions does
> not reflect that claim, nor could I find sufficient references to
> support such a strong statement. My understanding of the situation is
> rather different; I've seen both proponents and opponents. With
> regards to project regulars...

I felt that during the Git Contributor's summit the room was in favor of adopting Rust in general. The discussion seemed to rather revolve around _how_ we start to adopt it, not _if_ we do so. I also cannot really remember anybody pushing back on adopting Rust.

In any case, I'm happy to tone this down a bit, as the document is not here to make the case for Rust. I think that it is very likely that we will eventually start to adopt Rust, and because of that I tend to think that we should be prepared for such a future instead of having to reevaluate our build system because it cannot handle such a potential future.

[snip]

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> * At least one well-established contributor has stated[4] that "Rust
> scares" him. (Possibly this was said somewhat in jest, but I suspect
> the feeling may be shared by more than a few long-time Git
> contributors who see Rust as an overly complex, complicated, and
> convoluted language but who haven't spoken up because they understand
> that the programming world in general is moving toward more modern
> languages such as Rust and Go.)

Well, that was me :) I _am_ scared of the learning curve of Rust, but I also think that it puts enough on the table to be a worthwhile addition. So it was said half-jokingly.

Patrick