Linus Torvalds Evaluates Rust, C, and AI Tools
The creator of Linux compares Rust and C programming languages.
1Linus Torvalds' Tool Preference
At Open Source Summit India 2026, Linus Torvalds stated that he primarily uses Git and email, with few other tools. However, he shared his thoughts on Rust, C, and patch-checking tools. Torvalds mentioned using Google for information and noted that other developers are increasingly turning to AI tools.
2Comparison of Rust and C
Torvalds expressed skepticism about Rust taking over the world. He found C to be a simpler tool and preferred its raw and straightforward power. While Rust is interesting, Torvalds emphasized that it fixes some easy bugs in C but does not address logic errors.
3Automated Patch Verification Tools
Torvalds is more excited about automated patch verification tools for C. He praised tools like Sashiko for automatic email checking of patches. These tools enhance the quality of C code, and tested code is more reliable, according to Torvalds.
4Rust and C Codebases
Torvalds noted that Rust's guarantees only apply to Rust-only parts of the codebase. When Rust interacts with C code, these guarantees do not hold. He pointed out that the core kernel C code in Linux is of higher quality because it has been tested in various environments.
5Logic Errors and Security
Torvalds highlighted that recent major bugs in the Linux kernel were logic errors. While Rust prevents memory errors, it does not guard against bad programming. Such errors can occur even in carefully maintained subsystems, he explained.
6Conclusion and Evaluation
Torvalds cautioned against overestimating Rust's advantages over C. He prefers C's simplicity and power and believes this will not change. Despite Rust's appeal, Torvalds underscored that C still holds a significant place in programming.
Original article: Slashdot — Linus Torvalds Rust, C ve AI Araçlarını Değerlendiriyor