Debian Mandates Rust for Apt, Reshaping Ubuntu and Other Linux Distros
11 days ago
- #Linux
- #Rust
- #Security
- Debian announces adoption of Rust for APT and future packages, starting no earlier than May 2026.
- Rust's memory-safe architecture aims to improve security and stability by preventing common bugs like buffer overflows.
- Impact extends to Debian-based distros like Ubuntu and Mint, which rely on APT for package management.
- Developer reactions are mixed, with some criticizing the approach and others doubting the benefits of rewriting code in Rust.
- Debian's next major release, Forky (Debian 14), will feature deeper Rust integration in core utilities and security modules.
- Older architectures without Rust support may face challenges, raising questions about their long-term viability.
- Distributions like antiX can continue using older Debian releases to support legacy hardware.