Make your microcontroller apps safe and secure with Rust
Rust on a Device

© Photo by Lucas van Oort on Unsplash
Rust, a potential successor to C/C++, claims to solve some memory safety issues while maintaining high performance. We look at Rust on embedded systems, where memory safety, concurrency, and security are equally important.
For decades, C and increasingly C++ have been the languages of choice for microcontroller development, with assembler reserved for optimizations and start-up code. Most vendors provide free development IDEs, and most of these use GNU compilers under the hood. Some of the IDEs come with initialization code and generate device configuration code (choosing I/O functionality, etc.), so a device can be configured in a point-and-shoot manner letting you concentrate on writing application code. Similarly, manufacturers of I/O devices such as sensors and wireless modules supply drivers and example code.
C/C++ is an easy-to-learn language, but it's also easy to abuse and to write buggy code. Embedded code is expected to run unattended, often in hostile environments where code updates are difficult if not impossible. Increasingly, these devices are Internet-connected. While this means easier code updates, it requires a significant amount of extra effort to do well, and ironically this very connectivity lays the device open to nefarious access attempts. I know that there are tools available that help to minimize the risk of bad code getting into a product, and it is certainly not easy to consider rewriting large legacy codebases in another language, but I think that Rust [1] has come far enough and has sufficient advantages over C/C++ to be considered for new code and for re-writing critical sections of existing code as a stepping stone to a full Rust implementation.
With that being said, this article is intended as a "getting started" guide: Adoption of Rust is a big step in a commercial environment, and one of the best ways to evaluate a new language is to try it! In today's world of low-cost development boards and free software tools, all it takes is a little time and determination. Then you can base your decisions on some real-life experience.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.