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Except Rust is actively being used in kernel space and low level embedded systems as well.

hn_submit 7d ago
It's useful, but systems programming languages shouldn't be used to create applications in the first place. We're trying to solve a problem that shouldn't be solved. We're continuing and even confirming the usage of systems programming languages for application development.
- everforward 7d ago
  I don’t think this delineation is that clear, unless by “application” you mean the app tier of a 3 tier app. Postgres and Nginx make sense in system programming languages; they’re extremely performance sensitive and that granular level of control offers them features. Interpreters are sort of the same, they interact with the OS a ton, it makes sense to work in the same language as the OS. I do generally agree for the app tier of a web app. I wouldn’t build a CMS in Rust, but I also wouldn’t build a reverse proxy in Python.
  - hn_submit 7d ago
    Writing an operating system kernel in C is valid usage since there's a great deal of thought going into it and it almost never changes. EVERYTHING ELSE is invalid usage no matter how performance critical people claim their application is. These are just excuses for people to use a grossly unsafe language to get that last 2% of performance whilst costing the world trillions in lost productivity and security breaches.
    - RossBencina 6d ago
      An operating system kernel is the last place you want an unsafe language, if you can help it.
- boomlinde 7d ago
  What are the requirements and design constraints of an application? Please give a general answer that applies to all applications.
  - hn_submit 6d ago
    Anything that's not an operating system kernel.
    - boomlinde 5d ago
      You didn't answer nor apparently read my question. You can just answer it in whatever terms you consider some piece of software to be an application when you say "systems programming languages shouldn't be used to create applications in the first place."
- tcfhgj 7d ago
  why shouldn't they? humanity consumes more resources than is sustainable, and systems languages can help to reduce resource consumption.
- monocasa 7d ago
  Rust is also a great language for app code. I reach for it now in places I used to use python.

It's useful, but systems programming languages shouldn't be used to create applications in the first place. We're trying to solve a problem that shouldn't be solved. We're continuing and even confirming the usage of systems programming languages for application development.

everforward 7d ago
I don’t think this delineation is that clear, unless by “application” you mean the app tier of a 3 tier app. Postgres and Nginx make sense in system programming languages; they’re extremely performance sensitive and that granular level of control offers them features. Interpreters are sort of the same, they interact with the OS a ton, it makes sense to work in the same language as the OS. I do generally agree for the app tier of a web app. I wouldn’t build a CMS in Rust, but I also wouldn’t build a reverse proxy in Python.
- hn_submit 7d ago
  Writing an operating system kernel in C is valid usage since there's a great deal of thought going into it and it almost never changes. EVERYTHING ELSE is invalid usage no matter how performance critical people claim their application is. These are just excuses for people to use a grossly unsafe language to get that last 2% of performance whilst costing the world trillions in lost productivity and security breaches.
  - RossBencina 6d ago
    An operating system kernel is the last place you want an unsafe language, if you can help it.
boomlinde 7d ago
What are the requirements and design constraints of an application? Please give a general answer that applies to all applications.
- hn_submit 6d ago
  Anything that's not an operating system kernel.
  - boomlinde 5d ago
    You didn't answer nor apparently read my question. You can just answer it in whatever terms you consider some piece of software to be an application when you say "systems programming languages shouldn't be used to create applications in the first place."
tcfhgj 7d ago
why shouldn't they? humanity consumes more resources than is sustainable, and systems languages can help to reduce resource consumption.
monocasa 7d ago
Rust is also a great language for app code. I reach for it now in places I used to use python.