Microsoft wants to replace its entire C and C++ codebase
www.theregister.com
: Plans move to Rust, with help from AI
    • Tattorack@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      18 days ago

      That’s OK. I’m using Linux. Perhaps this will drive more people to Linux. The less people using corporate owned tools the better.

    • SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      2·
      17 days ago

      “Our strategy is to combine AI and Algorithms to rewrite Microsoft’s largest codebases,” he added. “Our North Star is ‘1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code.’”

  • termaxima@slrpnk.netEnglish
    411·
    18 days ago

    This could have been good news, however, Microsoft’s insistance on using AI, and general incompetence even without it, makes me very doubtful this will be successful.

    They are going to try and replace C and C++ written by actual experts a few decades ago, with Rust written by idiots. Expect tons of logic bugs, and very little measurable difference in memory corruption.

    • Pup Biru@aussie.zoneEnglish
      26·
      18 days ago

      little measurable difference? the last time they rewrote something they replaced the start menu with fucking react

      the difference will be measurable and enormous

      • termaxima@slrpnk.netEnglish
        1·
        14 days ago

        Isn’t React technically safer for memory ? I was only talking about memory corruption, Rust’s actual main strength.

        Don’t get me wrong, it is absolutely terrible that they shoved JavaScript in the start menu. It’s buggy as hell, but I don’t think it can ever segfault.

        • Pup Biru@aussie.zoneEnglish
          1·
          14 days ago

          perhaps… i guess the single directional execution model would help to prevent memory leaks, and components would help keep things relatively contained… and also javascript in general avoids whole classes of c/c++ bugs… but it’s also incredibly slow. imo it’s just not something you should write core system components in

          to be clear, it’s not react that’s the problem here: its execution model is an excellent way of structuring UI… but something as core as the start menu just really isn’t something you should fuck around with slow languages with

          and also, that’s not to say that FOSS shouldn’t do it - they’re open, and thus something like react makes it easier for devs to write plugs and extend etc… but that’s not an engineering concern for windows: they don’t get the luxury of using extensibility as an excuse

      • phlegmy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        17 days ago

        No no no you see, they’re using rust, which is a ‘safe’ language. That means it’s not possible to have security issues…

  • Malcolm@lemmy.worldEnglish
    32·
    19 days ago

    Get out your popcorn because this should be fun to watch. They’re already vibe coding all of the value and stability out of their OS.

    As someone who only still has a Window install because Wine can’t handle the CAD tools I rely on, I look forward to the day when Linux becomes a more attractive platform to release professional software for. I’m not holding my breath for the Year of the Linux Desktop but I can certainly enjoy the ride of MS’s self sabotage to get there.

  • db2@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    19 days ago

    Probably with AI slop because they got really stupid really fast in Redmond.

  • ZILtoid1991@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    18 days ago

    Will this finally be the end of Windows?

    Also fun fact: Windows uses a lot of COM Interfaces for API, which in my opinion often makes developing for Windows a better experience, than developing for Linux. Rust does not have anything OOP related by default, and are often emulated with macros instead, like in C.

    • nialv7@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      17 days ago

      That’s a crazy take. I hate com and oop with a passion. If you like com that much there’s gobject for you on Linux.

  • qaz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    17 days ago

    This sounds like a great idea, I might finally be able to use Linux at work in the future.

  • whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    17 days ago

    This is coming from someone who is pretending to think Microsoft is currently doing well and could lose some quality at the expense to introduce new features users want faster to sell an image of technology innovators or at a baseline a user friendly experience

    What is actually happening is they are trying really hard to sell Microsoft after windows 11 launch pushed a lot of users away or at least gave them an accurate impression of how MS caters to corporations and advertisers and they don’t give a shit about users as long as they keep buying computers with windows monopoly pre installed. The ‘ai is going to be good enough to replace developers’ longshot could come in 10 years or 10,000 years and is a hand wave to not understand the problem or currently available possible solutions.

    Also the interview only covers corpo interests and doesn’t include any labor or software union leaders.