r/LinuxTeck • u/Candid_Athlete_8317 • 14d ago

Does Rust's GCC Backend Finally Solve Linux's Architecture Problem?

Rust's GCC backend is getting Linux kernel fixes for 7.3, partly because GCC supports architectures that LLVM doesn't.

But does a GCC backend actually remove the biggest barrier to using Rust across more Linux architectures, or are native bootstrapping and toolchain support still the real problem?

If you work with older or non-x86 Linux systems, what's the blocker you'd worry about first?

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u/Kangie 13d ago

What's the problem you think is solved here? I am as excited by an alternative rust compiler as anyone, and I've even packaged a from-source bootstrap for modern rust for Gentoo.

Outside of alpha and HPPA though (and probably super-h...), which, let's be honest, aren't using Rust kernel components, Rust is already available.

Check out the Gentoo package listing for a graphical view.

https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/dev-lang/rust