Rust’s focus on memory safety and performance has led to its adoption in various domains, including systems programming. However, when integrating Rust code with existing C++ projects, developers often face challenges in achieving seamless interoperability. The main hurdles stem from the differing type systems of both languages. C++’s manual memory management and lack of ownership concepts lead to potential memory leaks and dangling pointers when interacting with Rust code, which enforces strong ownership guarantees. To bridge this gap, various solutions have emerged: 1.? Implementing a Foreign Function Interface (FFI) that allows calling C++ code from Rust, while correctly handling the transfer of ownership between the two languages. 2.? Using Rust’s `std::ptr` module to create safe, owned pointers to C++ objects, effectively wrapping the C++ object in a Rust-owned pointer. 3.? Creating a thin C++ wrapper around the Rust code, utilizing smart pointers (e.g., `unique_ptr`) to manage memory and ensure correct ownership transfer. 4.? Utilizing C++’s type-erasure mechanisms, such as `std::any` or `std::variant`, to abstract away the differences in the two languages’ type systems. SKIP

In 2021, Google announced its membership to the Rust Foundation. By then, Rust had already gained significant traction throughout Android and various other Google products. We highlighted our commitment to enhancing the safety features of Rust code and improving its seamless integration with C++ code. Rust has emerged as a powerful tool for tackling memory safety concerns, providing robust features to ensure secure coding practices. Since then, industry leaders and counterparts have reiterated our views.

Google has awarded a $1 million grant to the Rust Foundation to advance initiatives enhancing Rust’s ability to seamlessly integrate with existing legacy C++ codebases. As part of our ongoing commitment to the Rust community, we are now sharing and contributing to the open-source projects we utilize within Google’s open-source initiatives. These significant contributions, combined with our own efforts, leave us feeling optimistic about the future of Rust.

According to historical data on vulnerability density, Rust has effectively mitigated a significant number of potential security threats from affecting the Android ecosystem. This funding goal aims to accelerate the widespread adoption of Rust across various aspects of the platform.

As Google’s efforts on Rust have borne significant fruit in Android development, our focus now shifts to expanding its adoption across a broader range of applications, encompassing both desktop clients and server infrastructure.

While Rust may not be a suitable choice for every project requirement, ensuring effortless compatibility with C++ can accelerate broader industry acceptance, ultimately supporting business objectives by enhancing memory security.

With existing Rust tooling and ecosystem support, ongoing investments in initiatives such as compiler instrumentation, compatibility frameworks, and binary analysis tools have significantly improved Rust’s interoperability with C++. As enhancements have persisted, a notable decline in limitations has contributed to the rapid acceleration of Rust’s adoption. As advancements unfold across various tools, growth is often incremental, tailored to meet the specific needs of a project or organization at any given time.

To accelerate Rust adoption within Google and beyond, we’re eager to invest and collaborate on necessary ABI modifications, tooling, build system support, wrapper libraries, and other identified areas of need.

As we collaborate with the Rust Foundation’s Interop Initiative, our goal is to ensure that all enhancements align with the Rust mission, effectively addressing the unique challenges posed by the adoption of Rust-based projects compared to those utilizing C++. Ensuring the integrity of open-source reminiscence security across the software industry is a pressing technological imperative, and we extend an invitation to the community and industry at large to collaborate with us in safeguarding the open-source ecosystem for all stakeholders.

What are the key takeaways from the Rust Foundation’s Interop Initiative’s current efforts?