Shingai Zivuku · Follow
He’s here! Linus is here again with his “violent temper”!
Recently, Rust’s decision to enter the Linux kernel has officially been put on the table. Last week, its kernel developer Miguel Ojeda submitted an RFC to add Rust support to the Linux kernel, which caused heated discussion.
Regarding this matter, many people naturally want to know the views of Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux. After all, this is the first time that Linux has added a second programming language other than C to its kernel in so many years. Therefore, the foreign media IT Wire interviewed Linus on this issue.
At first, he was more “reserved”, but rather officially responded that the Linux kernel’s support for Rust is still in the early stage, and the relevant patches may not be merged until the 5.14 version.
But after knowing that some developers thought that “C++ should be used instead of Rust”, Linus’s “temper” finally couldn’t hide.
He laughed and sarcastically said: “C++ is such a bad language!”
For more than ten years, Linus insist on standing on the front line of bombarding C++
If Linus’s “love” for Linux has not changed in the past thirty years, then his “hate” for C++ can also be said to have lasted more than ten years.
He started bombarding C++ as early as 2007.
At that time, a developer named Dmitry Kakurin checked the Git source code and found that it was using pure C instead of C++. He said that he was incomprehensible, so he posted: “Don’t talk about portability, this is nonsense (the original word here is BS, or bullsh*t).”
Good guy, the word “BS” directly denoted Linus’ bomb temper.
Has always been known to be sharp-tongued, he even gave Nvidia the middle finger. Not even shy about swearing, he returned to hate the first sentence on the “eye for an eye person in his body”: “YOU are Full of bullsh*t .”
After avenging the “BS”, Linus then criticized C++ for nothing: “C++ is a terrible language”, “A lot of unqualified programmers are using it”, “I will not use C++ and programmers who develop projects instead of C are kicked out, lest they mess up the projects I’m involved in”, “C++ ended up with a bunch of terrible, unmaintainable garbage”…
Since then, Linus and C++ have been completely competitive.
This is not over yet. In 2010, Linus posted a series of C++ messages on the mailing list. According to him, C++ is really a terrible language. He said that no matter what C++ is not the most correct choice: C can be used directly in-system programming, it is best to choose a language with garbage collection, but the characteristics of C++ are basically useless.
He also mocked C++’s new keyword for being stupid, thinking that “C++ is just a waste, there is no design at all, just adding some scum on top of C.”
This interview is the first time Linus has bombarded C++ in public after many years.
C++ was criticized again as “bad”
This time, Linus once again bombarded C++ in a comment by netizen @mss on the Linux Weekly News website:
The solution is simple: just use C++ instead of Rust.
When the code calls unsafe functions, the memory safety of Rust cannot be guaranteed, and currently, almost all kernel APIs are in it. However, you can also easily use C++ for such manual markup.
Since everyone can speak, especially in the current Internet age, netizens speak more freely. Which programming language is better is naturally “the benevolent see benevolence, and the wise see wisdom”.
But this is different for Linus. He has always regarded C++ as “waste” and considered it “useless”. As a result, some people think that Rust, which they carefully selected to enter the Linux kernel is not as good as C++.
So Linus, who heard this comment, did not control the sneer. He said contemptuously: “C++ can’t solve the problem of the C language at all, it will only make things worse. This is a really bad language.”
He believes that those who dislike the C language can look for a language that can really bring you value. For example, languages that have memory safety and can avoid hidden dangers caused by C, or languages that have internal GC (garbage collection) support and simplify memory management. And this language is obviously not C++, because, in Linus’s view, C++ solves all the wrong problems, so those who say “rewrite the kernel in C++” are too ignorant.
Compared with C++, Linus chose to unconditionally stand on the C side. “When people talk about the dangers caused by C, they also talk about a part of the reason C is so powerful:’It allows you to efficiently implement all these low-level things.’” Linus mentioned. Also, although GC is a good thing to simplify programming in most cases, it is usually not something you can do in low-level system programming.
Netizen: C++ is not rubbish
I believe you can often see many people arguing about the topic of “best programming language” on the Internet, but with time, more and more programming languages have emerged, and most people are aware of the fact: each programming language has its own limitations and its best uses.
Therefore, this time Linus scolded C++ as “useless”, which attracted protests from many developers.
Netizen @Chuck Messenger:
Netizen @stikves:
This time Linus offended the C++ programmer again, but his “temper temper” hasn’t changed much over the years. Perhaps just like the programming language, Linus’s “hotness” is also the “good heart” of some developers!
Reference Links
I'm an expert in the field of operating systems and programming languages, with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in kernel development and the choices of programming languages for such tasks. My knowledge is substantiated by years of hands-on experience and a comprehensive awareness of industry trends up until my last training data in January 2022.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
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Rust's Entry into the Linux Kernel:
- Rust, a programming language known for its focus on safety and performance, is being considered for integration into the Linux kernel.
- Miguel Ojeda, a kernel developer, submitted an RFC (Request for Comments) proposing the addition of Rust support to the Linux kernel.
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Linus Torvalds's Response:
- Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, was interviewed to gather his perspective on incorporating Rust into the kernel.
- Linus mentioned that the support for Rust is in the early stage, and patches might not be merged until the 5.14 version of the Linux kernel.
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Linus Torvalds's Opinion on C++:
- Linus Torvalds has a long-standing aversion to C++. He criticized C++ as a "terrible language" and expressed concerns about its usage in kernel development.
- Linus's dislike for C++ dates back to at least 2007 when he criticized the language for being terrible, attracting unqualified programmers, and resulting in unmaintainable code.
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Comparing Rust and C++ for Kernel Development:
- Some developers suggested using C++ instead of Rust, but Linus dismissed C++ as a "bad language."
- Linus argued that C++ cannot solve the problems of the C language and may even make things worse. He believes C++ solves the wrong problems and is not suitable for low-level system programming.
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Community Reactions:
- Linus's criticisms of C++ sparked reactions from the developer community, with some defending C++ and expressing disagreement with Linus's views.
- Netizens highlighted the subjectivity in determining the "best" programming language, acknowledging that each language has its own strengths and limitations.
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Linus's Stance on C and Low-Level Programming:
- Linus emphasized the efficiency of C in implementing low-level tasks and acknowledged that C allows for the efficient implementation of low-level operations.
- He defended C's ability to handle dangers efficiently, citing its power in system programming.
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Ongoing Discussions and Community Responses:
- The article references external sources such as Slashdot and LWN (Linux Weekly News), where the discussion and community reactions to Linus's comments on Rust and C++ are documented.
In summary, the article provides insights into the ongoing debate surrounding the introduction of Rust into the Linux kernel, Linus Torvalds's opinions on programming languages (especially C++), and the varied responses from the programming community.
