The Linux Kernel’s “Rust Experiment” Is Officially Over — and That’s a Huge Win for Security and Performance

In a move that signals a major shift in the future of operating system development, the Linux kernel has officially ended its years-long “Rust experiment.” The experiment, which began as a cautious exploration of integrating Rust into the traditionally C-based kernel, is now being declared a full-fledged success. With millions of devices already running Rust-based kernel code and growing support from developers and enterprises alike, Rust has cemented its place in the heart of Linux.

This milestone comes as part of the Linux 7.0 merge window, a symbolic moment for the kernel community. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, has long been known for his preference for simplicity in versioning, and the jump to 7.0 reflects more than just a number — it marks a new era for kernel development.

What Does “Ending the Rust Experiment” Mean?

For years, the Linux kernel community has been cautiously integrating Rust, a modern programming language known for its memory safety and performance. Unlike C, which has been the backbone of the kernel for decades, Rust offers built-in protections against common programming errors like buffer overflows and null pointer dereferences — bugs that have historically led to security vulnerabilities.

The “experiment” label was a way to test Rust’s viability without fully committing. But now, with widespread adoption and proven success in production environments, the kernel team is ready to declare Rust a permanent part of the ecosystem.

Miguel Ojeda, a key contributor to the Rust-for-Linux project, summed it up perfectly in his announcement:

“The experiment is done, i.e., Rust is here to stay. I hope this signals commitment from the kernel to companies and other entities to invest more into it, e.g., into giving time to their kernel developers to train themselves in Rust. Thanks to the many kernel maintainers that gave the project their support and patience throughout these years, and to the many other developers, whether in the kernel or in other projects, that have made this possible.”

Why Rust Matters for Linux

Rust’s integration into the Linux kernel isn’t just a technical curiosity — it’s a game-changer for security, performance, and developer productivity. Here’s why:

1. Memory Safety Without Sacrificing Speed

Rust’s ownership model ensures memory safety at compile time, eliminating entire classes of bugs that plague C code. This means fewer security vulnerabilities and more stable systems — without the performance overhead of garbage collection.

2. Growing Adoption in Production

Major Linux distributions are already shipping kernels with Rust components, and millions of Android devices are running Rust-based kernel code. This real-world usage proves that Rust is not just a theoretical improvement but a practical one.

3. Developer-Friendly Features

Rust’s modern syntax, strong type system, and powerful tooling make it easier for developers to write correct, efficient code. This could help attract new talent to kernel development, which has traditionally been a niche field.

4. Improved Build Performance

The latest Rust pull request includes enhancements like the __rust_helper annotation, which improves kernel builds when using Link-Time Optimization (LTO). This means faster compile times and more efficient binaries — a win for developers and users alike.

What’s Next for Rust in Linux?

With the experiment officially over, the Linux kernel community is now free to fully embrace Rust. This could lead to:

• More Rust-based kernel modules: Expect to see more drivers and subsystems written in Rust, especially for new hardware.
• Better tooling and documentation: As more developers adopt Rust, the ecosystem around it will grow, making it easier to contribute.
• Increased enterprise investment: Companies may now feel more confident investing in Rust training and development for their kernel teams.

The Bigger Picture

The end of the Rust experiment is more than just a technical milestone — it’s a cultural shift. For decades, the Linux kernel has been written almost exclusively in C, a language that, while powerful, is prone to certain types of errors. Rust represents a new way forward, one that prioritizes safety and modernity without sacrificing performance.

As Miguel Ojeda noted, this decision sends a clear signal to the industry: Rust is here to stay, and the Linux kernel is ready to lead the way.

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