Re: Hard Rust requirements from May onward

[Julian Andres Klode <jak@debian.org>]

On Sun, Nov 02, 2025 at 01:08:06PM +0100, Joerg Jaspert wrote:
> On 17764 March 1977, Julian Andres Klode wrote:
> 
> > I plan to introduce hard Rust dependencies and Rust code into
> > APT, no earlier than May 2026. This extends at first to the
> > Rust compiler and standard library, and the Sequoia ecosystem.
> 
> > If you maintain a port without a working Rust toolchain,
> > please ensure it has one within the next 6 months, or
> > sunset the port.
> 
> > It's important for the project as whole to be able to
> > move forward and rely on modern tools and technologies
> > and not be held back by trying to shoehorn modern software
> > on retro computing devices.
> 
> > Thank you for your understanding.
> 
> > debian developer - deb.li/jak | jak-linux.org - free software dev
> > ubuntu core developer                              i speak de, en
> 
> There might be really good reasons for using Rust in a tool like apt.
> 
> They might even be good enough to ditch old ports - also I think that
> shouldn't be on one maintainers decision alone.

Do you mean "although"?

> 
> But whatever good intention may be behind this move, the way this mail was
> written completly kills them. And completly makes it *appear* as "arrogant
> asshole developer imposing his wants on everyone" combined with "if you dont
> like it, sod off, you don't matter". Especially with the end of it and the
> signature below.
> 
> That might not be how it was meant (most probably), but that's how it goes
> around.

It's fair but also I did not come up with the sentiment, but was
paraphrasing the discussion with a fellow prominent DD on the
#debian-apt IRC channel:

2025-07-24 13:45:24       juliank Probably should rewrite parsers in Rust, but retrocomputing ports get in the way at least :D
[...]
2025-07-24 16:38:22       <anonym> imvho retrocomputing ports are going to have to start finding new ways forward, we can't keep holding the distro back
2025-07-24 16:38:49       <anonym> perhaps a retrocomputing based os, or a forked apt they maintain for those arches
2025-07-24 16:39:13       <anonym> if I had my way, we'd drop all 32 bit arches as installable, and keep i386 around for a bit longer
2025-07-24 20:20:44       juliank I'm not gonna wait forever, <anonym> :D
2025-07-24 20:22:06       juliank I was saying EOY, but I'm open to May 2026
2025-07-24 20:25:06       <anonym> nice :)

-- 
debian developer - deb.li/jak | jak-linux.org - free software dev
ubuntu core developer                              i speak de, en