Linus Torvalds Clarify Linux Maintainer Roles – Or Not – Around Rust Code

What a petty drama. Who would have thunk grown-up kernel maintainers were such an irrational bunch?

I develop software both in C/C++ and in Rust and I have a pretty non-dogmatic view on software engineering. I don't do anything with Rust, but I see its appeal and I like it not for all, but a specific set of projects.

The problem here is that beyond the pure technological reasons to stay with one language or include another, Rust is perceived (consciously or subconsciously) as a cultural threat. Rust was explicitly developed and marketed to be able to replace the likes of C — and while it is the language that shall be replaced, some might feel it is themselves as people who are targeted. A big part of that might be an aversion to change, a trait that does not surprise me at all in C maintainers. And thst isn't necessarily a bad thing.

However it is sad that instead of asking: "How could we make this work so everybody profits" people lead these incredibly stupid turf wars.

It must really suck to be Linus Torvalds and having to herd that bunch of cats.