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Why we are betting on Rust

Blog post from SurrealDB

Post Details
Company
Date Published
Author
Alexander Fridriksson
Word Count
1,026
Language
English
Hacker News Points
-
Summary

SurrealDB, a database built to support the development of future applications, is founded on the Rust programming language due to its emphasis on memory safety and performance without a garbage collector. Despite Rust's initial steep learning curve, its features, such as the borrow checker and lifetimes, ultimately enable developers to create more secure and efficient applications. The shift from prototype languages like Go to Rust for the final product exemplifies the "go slow to go fast" philosophy. Rust's increasing popularity and adoption, including its integration into the Linux kernel, highlight its potential to reduce memory safety issues that account for a significant percentage of security vulnerabilities in major systems. This aligns with recommendations from entities like the US White House Office of the National Cyber Director, advocating for memory-safe programming languages in safety-critical environments. SurrealDB's commitment to Rust is also reflected in community initiatives like the Women in Rust meet-up, aimed at making Rust more accessible.