Apt Rust requirement raises questions
a day ago
- #Debian
- #Rust
- #APT
- Debian's APT tool will require Rust starting May 2026, impacting unofficial ports without Rust toolchains.
- Julian Andres Klode announced the change, emphasizing benefits like memory safety and better unit testing.
- Some Debian developers criticized Klode's communication style and the lack of discussion before the decision.
- The change affects ports like Alpha, m68k, hppa, and sh4, which lack Rust support but are not officially supported by Debian.
- Security concerns were raised, with suggestions to remove certain parsers from APT to reduce bugs.
- Debian faces challenges with Rust, including static linking issues and tracking CVEs for dependencies.
- The decision highlights tensions between modernization and Debian's community-driven, universal OS ethos.