Fast Facts

• Python’s maintainers are considering integrating the Rust programming language to improve security and performance.
• Rust prevents entire classes of memory errors common in C and C++ codebases.
• Major tech players like Google and Mozilla already use Rust in critical projects like Android and Firefox.
• Roughly a quarter of new Python extensions are now written in Rust.
• The approach could make Python both safer and faster, but introduces new challenges in build processes and developer training.

The Plot Twist in Python’s Tale

Imagine a beloved city built on ancient foundations: bustling, creative, but haunted by cracks in its infrastructure. That’s Python - one of the world’s most popular programming languages - whose core, written in the older C language, has long been vulnerable to memory leaks, crashes, and bugs that attackers can exploit. Now, two CPython developers, Emma Smith and a colleague, have proposed a daring renovation: reinforce Python with Rust, a language engineered for safety and reliability.

Rust: The Digital Seatbelt

Rust is designed like a fortress against entire families of programming mistakes. It blocks dangerous memory access - like trying to read from a demolished building or writing outside the lines of a notebook - before the code even runs. This is especially crucial for Python, which juggles multiple tasks at once (so-called multithreading), making it prone to subtle, hard-to-fix bugs.

Rust’s credentials are impressive: it’s already protecting the Linux kernel, Android’s core, and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. Google reported significant drops in security issues after adopting Rust for Android. Now, Python’s maintainers want the same shield, starting with optional modules and, potentially, making Rust a core requirement in the future.

How Would It Work?

Instead of rewriting all of Python overnight, the plan is to start with optional extension modules - chunks of code that add extra features. Rust’s integration would use tools like bindgen to link Python’s existing C-based parts with new, safer Rust modules. Over time, more of Python’s “city” could be rebuilt with Rust’s sturdy bricks.

Already, about 25-33% of new Python extensions are written in Rust, a trend likely to accelerate if the plan moves forward. Rust’s high-performance data structures and powerful code-generation tools (macros) promise not just safety but speed and maintainability, too.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

No revolution comes without complications. Rust’s compiler relies on Python to get started - a curious “chicken-and-egg” scenario. Workarounds exist, but the process could get complex, especially for new contributors. Training will also be key: Python’s maintainers are laying out plans for Rust tutorials and expert teams to ease the transition.

Globally, the move reflects a growing consensus: as cyber threats mount and software grows ever more complex, languages like Rust - built for safety from the ground up - are no longer optional. They are a necessity. If Python, a language powering everything from Instagram to NASA, can make this leap, it may inspire a new era of safer, smarter code across the tech world.

WIKICROOK

• Memory Safety: Memory safety ensures software only accesses permitted memory, preventing bugs and vulnerabilities like crashes, data leaks, and cyberattacks.
• Multithreading: Multithreading lets a single program perform multiple tasks at once, improving speed and efficiency by sharing resources among threads.
• FFI (Foreign Function Interface): FFI lets programs written in one language use code or libraries from another, enabling cross-language integration and code reuse.
• Macros: Macros are small scripts in documents that automate tasks. If enabled, attackers can use them to deliver malware or compromise security.
• Crate: A crate in Rust is a reusable package of code, like a library or module, that helps organize and share functionality across projects.