In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft Azure CTO, Mark Russinovich, made a bold statement in September 2022, advising against using the traditional languages of C or C++ for certain new projects. Instead, he recommended the Rust programming language for its security and reliability features, particularly in scenarios where a garbage collector system is not available.

This recommendation caught the attention of Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, who reached out to Russinovich to confirm the seriousness of the suggestion. Russinovich affirmed his stance, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety in software development.

At RustConf 2025 in Seattle, Russinovich highlighted Microsoft’s shift towards Rust due to the language’s ability to prevent memory safety issues, a significant factor in software vulnerabilities. He emphasized the inherent advantages of Rust over C and C++, acknowledging that Rust sets a higher standard for secure programming.

Embracing Rust Across Industries

Following Microsoft’s lead, other tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Arm have also adopted Rust in various products and services. The language, initially developed at Mozilla Research, has gained widespread recognition for its memory safety features and modern approach to programming.

Microsoft’s integration of Rust in Windows systems, such as the win32kbase_rs.sys file in the System32 directory, signifies a significant shift towards memory-safe languages in the industry. This trend is further supported by organizations like the National Security Agency and the Linux operating system kernel.

Challenges and Triumphs at RustConf 2025

The 10th anniversary of Rust’s first stable release was celebrated at RustConf 2025, shedding light on the language’s journey from a niche favorite to a crucial component of modern technology. The event showcased success stories and practical insights into adopting Rust in large organizations.

Amazon engineer, Russell Cohen, shared valuable lessons on Rust adoption within the company, emphasizing the importance of expertise and commitment to overcome challenges. Teams without Rust experts faced higher abandonment rates, highlighting the need for dedicated support and training.

The Evolution of Rust Community

Rust’s supportive ecosystem and user-friendly design have contributed to its growing popularity among developers. Unlike traditional languages like C++, Rust offers clear error messages and guidance, simplifying the debugging process for programmers.

Rebecca Rumbul, the executive director of the Rust Foundation, announced the establishment of the Rust Innovation Lab to support funded projects and highlighted Arm’s increased involvement in the open-source community. These developments signify Rust’s maturation and growing corporate partnerships.

• The Rust Innovation Lab launches with Rustls, a memory-safe security library, as its first project.
• Arm elevates its membership to the Platinum level, showcasing strong support for Rust’s development.

As Rust gains corporate backing, the challenge lies in balancing community-driven initiatives with corporate interests. Scott McMurray, a project director on the Rust Foundation board, emphasized the need for a structured approach to maintain the community’s voice amidst corporate involvement.

Looking Towards the Future

Nicholas Matsakis, a senior principal engineer at Amazon Web Services and co-lead of the Rust language design team, discussed Rust’s evolving mission in the tech industry. With widespread adoption achieved, the focus now shifts towards maximizing Rust’s value proposition and addressing the unique needs of developers.

As Rust navigates the complexities of corporate partnerships and community-driven initiatives, its commitment to safety, reliability, and user-friendly programming remains at the core of its success.