Programming Leftovers

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Sep 23, 2022

• Linux embracing Rust will boost robotics community [Ed: There are reasons to be sceptical of this because C is already used widely, good developers use it, and it's not clear what developers stayed away from Linux kernel development just because Rust wasn't admissible]

  This week, Linux’s Benevolent Dictator For Life Linus Torvalds mentioned that the Rust programming language would be used in the upcoming Linux 6.1 kernel. Currently, the Linux kernel is at preview version 6.0-rc6 (codenamed “Hurr durr I’ma ninja sloth”) so we have a bit of time before we all have Rust powering the kernel, but the mere announcement is news-worthy. It’s the author’s opinion that this embrace of Rust at the very core of Linux will be a huge boost to the robotics community.

• Ten challenges for Rust

  Rust is in a pretty good place; it is getting more and more popular, has more and more contributors, and is used in some pretty significant places. However, it is a time of flux and change, and transitioning from a research project then a new, rapidly changing language to a popular, established project is a difficult change.

  Here, I want to describe what I think are the ten biggest challenges for Rust for now and the next few years. I have some ideas for solutions, but they are all big, difficult questions with no simple answer, so the real solutions will all take iteration, energy, and creativity. My focus is on the core project; there are many challenges for the community and ecosystem (e.g., how to make GUIs with Rust, or how to get more crates to 1.0) which I think must be primarily solved by the community.

• Arch Linux drops Python 2

  Arch Linux has announced that Python 2 is being removed from the distribution's repositories. "If you still require the python2 package you can keep it around, but please be aware that there will be no security updates."

• Python 2 Is No Longer Part of the Arch Linux Repositories

  Python 2 reached EOL in 2020, so Arch's devs reduced the apps that used it to the point it is now entirely removed from the distro's repos.

• TPF launches merch store for Perl 5 | dean [blogs.perl.org]

  TPF has launched an online store with Perl merchandise (swag) celebrating the Perl 5.36 release. The marketing committee plan to do a custom celebratory collection for each release of Perl with revenue from each sale goes to TPF's Perl fund.

• My Perl Weekly Challenge | AWNCORP [blogs.perl.org]

  All this talk about types, objects, and systems, got me to thinking, "what would it take to create a 100% backwards-compatible pure Perl proof-of-concept for optionally typable subroutine signatures". I mean really, how hard could it be?

• Lisp macros are magical

  In my previous post I introduced yet another Lisp interpreter. When it was posted there was no support for macros.

  Since I've recently returned from a visit to the UK, and caught COVID-19 while I was there, I figured I'd see if my brain was fried by adding macro support.

  I know lisp macros are awesome, it's one of those things that everybody is told. Repeatedly. I've used macros in my emacs programming off and on for a good few years, but despite that I'd not really given them too much thought.

• Limine 4.1.2 black screen

  I have built EasyOS 4.4, for final testing, and tested it on some of my small collection of computers. Unfortunately, get a black screen on one of the computers.

• Qt for Android Automotive 6.3.2 is released

  We are happy to announce that the latest Qt for Android Automotive is out, focusing on better developer experience and bug fixes.