linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] docs: rust: add "The Rust experiment" section

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Message-ID: <d47553f1-1832-4c69-8a8c-71c58048ff30@lunn.ch>
Date:   Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:27:29 +0200
From:   Andrew Lunn <andrew@...n.ch>
To:     Miguel Ojeda <ojeda@...nel.org>
Cc:     Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>,
        Wedson Almeida Filho <wedsonaf@...il.com>,
        Alex Gaynor <alex.gaynor@...il.com>,
        Boqun Feng <boqun.feng@...il.com>, Gary Guo <gary@...yguo.net>,
        Björn Roy Baron <bjorn3_gh@...tonmail.com>,
        Benno Lossin <benno.lossin@...ton.me>,
        Andreas Hindborg <a.hindborg@...sung.com>,
        Alice Ryhl <aliceryhl@...gle.com>, linux-doc@...r.kernel.org,
        rust-for-linux@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        patches@...ts.linux.dev
Subject: Re: [PATCH] docs: rust: add "The Rust experiment" section

On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 06:09:22PM +0200, Miguel Ojeda wrote:
> Clarify that the Rust experiment is still going on to avoid
> confusion for both kernel maintainers and end users.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Miguel Ojeda <ojeda@...nel.org>
> ---
> Andrew: I did not add a `Suggested-by` just in case, but please let me know
> if you want it, of course.
> 
>  Documentation/rust/index.rst | 17 +++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 17 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/Documentation/rust/index.rst b/Documentation/rust/index.rst
> index e599be2cec9b..aaed36af15ce 100644
> --- a/Documentation/rust/index.rst
> +++ b/Documentation/rust/index.rst
> @@ -6,6 +6,23 @@ Rust
>  Documentation related to Rust within the kernel. To start using Rust
>  in the kernel, please read the quick-start.rst guide.
> 
> +
> +The Rust experiment
> +-------------------
> +
> +The Rust support was merged in v6.1 into mainline in order to help in
> +determining whether Rust as a language was suitable for the kernel, i.e. worth
> +the tradeoffs.
> +
> +Currently, the Rust support is primarily intended for kernel developers and
> +maintainers interested in the Rust support, so that they can start working on
> +abstractions and drivers, as well as helping the development of infrastructure
> +and tools.
> +
> +In particular, if you are an end user, please note that there are no in-tree
> +drivers/modules suitable or intended for production use yet.

It very unlikely end users read this document. And that statement is
not limited to end users, it is true for everybody.

What we should be saying is that Rust for the Linux kernel in general
is not ready for production use. Developing drivers in Rust is
currently for experimentation only. Given the experimental nature of
the work, there is some risk Rust will never be ready for production
use.

   Andrew