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Either Rust needs to become dramatically simpler or an entirely new memory safe language needs to rise in popularity. Rust is too complex to go mainstream.

azornathogron 4y ago
If C++ is mainstream (it is) then complexity is clearly not an obstacle.
- andrewstuart 4y ago
  There’s historical reasons for that. C++, if released today, would not result in the same user base.
- extrememacaroni 4y ago
  Pretty sure C++ is mainstream because of C and its own earlier versions, so regardless of the complex mess it became now.
  - WanderPanda 4y ago
    It is not inherently complex, it depends on what components you pick. You can use almost any programming paradigm in C++ nowadays. But I agree that many codebases are complex because of the flexibility and not deliberately choosing a particular paradigm.
    - ajb 4y ago
      For many other languages, it's practical to know the whole language. C++ is an exercise in trying to make one language do everything and support every paradigm. The explosion of new languages recently shows that that approach is not winning. IMO because it inevitably means a leaky abstraction over a more complicated language, and lots of discipline to avoid the leaky areas. (JS seems to be edging in the same direction, although they have the excuse that browser support for alternate languages is still limited)
theusus 4y ago
Totally agree it's hard to read bit of complex code because you used a reference counted cell.
mixedCase 4y ago
Rust is already mainstream. Tons of software is built with it and it's already in the Linux kernel. Completely replacing C and C++ is not the bar to clear.
- andrewstuart 4y ago
  There’s no Rust developer jobs listed on seek.com.au Australias biggest job site. So not mainstream yet, if usage in companies is a measure.
faitswulff 4y ago
It’s harder to please the compiler, but simpler to get right than other languages.

azornathogron 4y ago

If C++ is mainstream (it is) then complexity is clearly not an obstacle.

andrewstuart 4y ago
There’s historical reasons for that. C++, if released today, would not result in the same user base.
extrememacaroni 4y ago
Pretty sure C++ is mainstream because of C and its own earlier versions, so regardless of the complex mess it became now.
- WanderPanda 4y ago
  It is not inherently complex, it depends on what components you pick. You can use almost any programming paradigm in C++ nowadays. But I agree that many codebases are complex because of the flexibility and not deliberately choosing a particular paradigm.
  - ajb 4y ago
    For many other languages, it's practical to know the whole language. C++ is an exercise in trying to make one language do everything and support every paradigm. The explosion of new languages recently shows that that approach is not winning. IMO because it inevitably means a leaky abstraction over a more complicated language, and lots of discipline to avoid the leaky areas. (JS seems to be edging in the same direction, although they have the excuse that browser support for alternate languages is still limited)

theusus 4y ago

Totally agree it's hard to read bit of complex code because you used a reference counted cell.

mixedCase 4y ago

Rust is already mainstream. Tons of software is built with it and it's already in the Linux kernel. Completely replacing C and C++ is not the bar to clear.

andrewstuart 4y ago
There’s no Rust developer jobs listed on seek.com.au Australias biggest job site. So not mainstream yet, if usage in companies is a measure.

faitswulff 4y ago

It’s harder to please the compiler, but simpler to get right than other languages.