🦀 Rust’s Growing Role in the Linux Kernel (2025 Update)
For over three decades, the Linux kernel—the foundation of most modern operating systems—has been written almost entirely in C. This choice gave developers low-level control and raw speed, but also introduced an age-old nemesis: memory safety bugs.
In recent years, a new contender has entered the scene—Rust—promising the performance of C without its dangerous pitfalls. What started as an experiment has evolved into one of the most significant developments in Linux kernel history.
Here’s a deep dive into how Rust is shaping the kernel in 2025, what’s been achieved, and what lies ahead.
⚙️ From Idea to Integration
Rust’s inclusion in the Linux kernel didn’t happen overnight. The idea first surfaced around 2019, when kernel developers, led by Miguel Ojeda, began working on the Rust for Linux project—a bold initiative to bring safe systems programming into the kernel ecosystem.
After years of testing and discussions, Rust support was officially merged into Linux 6.1 in December 2022. For the first time since 1991, the kernel gained a second programming language.
Initially, the integration was modest—a small but solid foundation that allowed kernel modules and drivers to be written in Rust. Over time, this foundation has grown into something far more impactful.
🧩 What’s New in 2025: Recent Rust Progress
🧱 1. Broader Architecture Support
Rust support now extends beyond x86_64 and ARM64.
As of Linux 6.10, the RISC-V architecture also supports Rust-based development, with LoongArch joining the mix. This expansion opens the door for safer, cross-platform driver development.
🔌 2. Early Rust-Based Drivers
Developers have begun introducing early Rust-written drivers and kernel modules.
Some of the ongoing work includes:
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Network PHY drivers (handling the physical network layer)
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A null block driver used for testing I/O subsystems
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A DRM panic QR-code generator, which displays kernel panic messages as scannable codes
While still considered experimental, these modules demonstrate Rust’s growing practicality for real-world kernel components.
🧰 3. Tooling and Build System Improvements
Integrating Rust into the kernel build process required major changes.
Recent updates have:
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Improved the kernel’s build-std process for Rust.
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Enhanced compatibility with LLVM/Clang toolchains (Rust relies on LLVM, while the kernel traditionally used GCC).
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Streamlined the developer workflow for compiling and debugging Rust code inside kernel space.
The Rust ecosystem is maturing fast within kernel infrastructure, making it increasingly viable for contributors.
🛡️ Why Rust Matters for the Kernel
The motivation for introducing Rust can be summed up in two words: memory safety.
Many of Linux’s historic security vulnerabilities trace back to unsafe memory operations—buffer overflows, null pointer dereferences, and use-after-free errors. Rust’s ownership model and borrow checker prevent these issues at compile time, effectively eliminating entire categories of bugs.
According to early kernel maintainers working with Rust:
“The Rust portions of the kernel are already showing fewer low-level safety bugs compared to their C equivalents.”
That’s a massive win for a system that powers billions of devices worldwide.
⚠️ What’s Still Experimental
While Rust’s entry into the Linux kernel is groundbreaking, it’s important to recognize that it’s still experimental.
The official kernel documentation
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