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I hope someday maybe we have a browser completely written in Rust. What's the point of using Rust in a C++ code base if C++ is the 800lb gorilla as the article

by onebot 6y ago

I hope someday maybe we have a browser completely written in Rust. What's the point of using Rust in a C++ code base if C++ is the 800lb gorilla as the article implies. If C++ is so important, then just stick to that?!

bsder 6y ago
> If C++ is so important, then just stick to that?! A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step ... Legacy is a thing. Replacing it piecemeal is the only way to get it replaced. In addition, you can prioritize pieces. If a particular piece is very likely to be a security problem or has lots of bugs, you can rewrite just that piece into Rust.
SquareWheel 6y ago
Some areas of code are more sensitive than others. Eliminating bugs in areas dealing with encryption, sandboxing, etc may be very beneficial.
erik_seaberg 6y ago
The strangler pattern (gradually replacing C++ with Rust) is pretty much the only alternative to a https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/04/06/things-you-should-never-do-part-i/ https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/04/06/things-you-should-... complete rewrite.
est31 6y ago
You have to start somewhere. Every C++ component that's replaced by a safe Rust component is a reduction in attack surface.
Skunkleton 6y ago
Most of the fun stuff your computer is doing right now is the direct result of C and C++ code (browser, kernel, web server, games, etc.). Replacing all that code in one go isn't going to happen. Still, Rust solves some real problems with C++, so we shouldn't ignore it. If we can't replace the world all at once, why not do it piecemeal while targeting the highest value components?
emptyparadise 6y ago
If only a certain foundation's corporate half didn't fire its Rust browser developers.
fgdfgddfg 6y ago
That was the goal with Servo, but Mozilla axed them https://twitter.com/directhex/status/1293352458308198401 https://twitter.com/directhex/status/1293352458308198401
- M2Ys4U 6y ago
  Servo was always a research project around writing a rendering engine and not an attempt to create a whole new browser product.
  - mitchtbaum 6y ago
    Webrender would work better as the complete OS interface than as an engine for one browser/app.

by onebot 6y ago

bsder 6y ago

> If C++ is so important, then just stick to that?! A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step ... Legacy is a thing. Replacing it piecemeal is the only way to get it replaced. In addition, you can prioritize pieces. If a particular piece is very likely to be a security problem or has lots of bugs, you can rewrite just that piece into Rust.

SquareWheel 6y ago

Some areas of code are more sensitive than others. Eliminating bugs in areas dealing with encryption, sandboxing, etc may be very beneficial.

erik_seaberg 6y ago

The strangler pattern (gradually replacing C++ with Rust) is pretty much the only alternative to a https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/04/06/things-you-should-never-do-part-i/ https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/04/06/things-you-should-... complete rewrite.

est31 6y ago

You have to start somewhere. Every C++ component that's replaced by a safe Rust component is a reduction in attack surface.

Skunkleton 6y ago

Most of the fun stuff your computer is doing right now is the direct result of C and C++ code (browser, kernel, web server, games, etc.). Replacing all that code in one go isn't going to happen. Still, Rust solves some real problems with C++, so we shouldn't ignore it. If we can't replace the world all at once, why not do it piecemeal while targeting the highest value components?

emptyparadise 6y ago

If only a certain foundation's corporate half didn't fire its Rust browser developers.

fgdfgddfg 6y ago

That was the goal with Servo, but Mozilla axed them https://twitter.com/directhex/status/1293352458308198401 https://twitter.com/directhex/status/1293352458308198401

M2Ys4U 6y ago
Servo was always a research project around writing a rendering engine and not an attempt to create a whole new browser product.
- mitchtbaum 6y ago
  Webrender would work better as the complete OS interface than as an engine for one browser/app.