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C is not going anywhere. Neither are C++, Java, and JS (less sure about TS). One reason is that we've built most of the foundations of modern software already

C is not going anywhere. Neither are C++, Java, and JS (less sure about TS). One reason is that we've built most of the foundations of modern software already in these languages. New apps pop up all the time but they all rely on ffmpeg, etc. The only way for a new language like Zig to cement itself is to build foundational software that other programs depend on. I don't think even Rust is moving in that direction (lots of Rust apps, but not so many libs I've had to use in my programs that were written in Rust).

josephg 1y ago
A language doesn't need to be used in foundational software to be relevant or useful. Go isn't built in the OS either, but its still used by lots of developers to write useful software. This might be controversial, but I think its fine for small languages to exist, with small followings. Nobody will ever make a browser in Haskell, but its still a work of art. Nobody uses Elm, but React wouldn't exist without it. And so on. Rust is useful on its own. But its also already inspired the C++ language committee to start talking about memory safety a lot more seriously. Thats a big deal! I'm delighted that languages like Zig exist. If for no other reason than to show that if you're dedicated enough, a lone hobbyist can still invent a language and make it good. (I wish that were still true for web browsers.)
dumah 1y ago
From my perspective, the adoption for Linux kernel modules, prevalence in the ecosystem of data science my industry relies on, and the explosion of great rust CLI tools satisfies this foundation. Native rust extensions to provide canonical high quality interfaces for other languages, like Valkey Glide are another example. Adding on the fact that rust is the fastest or nearly the fastest growing language in terms of users, and I can’t agree with the view that it is not moving in that direction.
jeberle 1y ago
Ubuntu's move to uutils suggests Rust is not going anywhere.

josephg 1y ago

A language doesn't need to be used in foundational software to be relevant or useful. Go isn't built in the OS either, but its still used by lots of developers to write useful software. This might be controversial, but I think its fine for small languages to exist, with small followings. Nobody will ever make a browser in Haskell, but its still a work of art. Nobody uses Elm, but React wouldn't exist without it. And so on. Rust is useful on its own. But its also already inspired the C++ language committee to start talking about memory safety a lot more seriously. Thats a big deal! I'm delighted that languages like Zig exist. If for no other reason than to show that if you're dedicated enough, a lone hobbyist can still invent a language and make it good. (I wish that were still true for web browsers.)

dumah 1y ago

From my perspective, the adoption for Linux kernel modules, prevalence in the ecosystem of data science my industry relies on, and the explosion of great rust CLI tools satisfies this foundation. Native rust extensions to provide canonical high quality interfaces for other languages, like Valkey Glide are another example. Adding on the fact that rust is the fastest or nearly the fastest growing language in terms of users, and I can’t agree with the view that it is not moving in that direction.

jeberle 1y ago

Ubuntu's move to uutils suggests Rust is not going anywhere.