Rust-C++ Interoperability Initiative

In 2024, Rust Foundation Platinum Member Google generously contributed $1M USD to help the Rust Foundation improve the state of interoperability between the Rust and C++ programming languages. Meaningful work on this "Interop Initiative" has begun. Updates will be shared here and through our blog. 

“Despite the growing popularity and adoption of Rust, it would be unrealistic to expect even the most technically advanced organization to easily pivot to Rust and away from the architecture of existing codebases. The Rust Foundation wants to help address this need in a harmonious and methodical way.”

 

- Dr. Rebecca Rumbul, Executive Director & CEO of the Rust Foundation

As the steward of the Rust programming language and its global community, the Rust Foundation believes that Rust offers critical advantages that can help the world achieve a safer, more secure, and sustainable technical future. But for organizations with millions of lines of C++ in a flagship product, rewriting that code in Rust within a reasonable timeframe may not be practical due to a myriad of business-related or technical factors.

With the support of Google, the Rust Foundation has created its new Interop Initiative to make the decision and process of investing in Rust smoother for organizations across the globe that are invested in C++.

Lead by:

  • Jon Bauman standing in front of Rust logo projected on stone wall.

    Jon Bauman

    C++/Rust Interop Software Engineer Lead

    Learn more about Jon Bauman
    Jon Bauman standing in front of Rust logo projected on stone wall.

    Jon Bauman

    C++/Rust Interop Software Engineer Lead

    Jon Bauman has worked in tech for two decades across various industries and programming disciplines. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan, Etsy, and Mozilla. Jon brought his experience in Rust and standards development to bear as the implementer of AVIF support in Firefox and the Mozilla representative to the Alliance for Open Media. As a member of the Rust Foundation’s growing engineering team, Jon applies the same skills to deeply understand complex systems and the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, forge pragmatic solutions, and build systems for the long term for the Rust/C++ Interop Initiative.

Supported by:

  • Google
    Google

    Google

    Joined January, 2021

    google.com

    Google is a multinational technology company focusing on artificial intelligence, online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, and consumer electronics. Their mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

    Google joined the Rust Foundation as a founding Platinum Member following years of early exploration of and investment in Rust. They attribute a drop in the share of memory-safety vulnerabilities in Android to their recent Rust adoption. 

    Google has also lent its time and expertise to the ongoing development of the Security Initiative. We look forward to further collaborating with them as this work continues.

Rust/C++ Interoperability Problem Statement

In November 2024, we released a Rust/C++ interoperability problem statement, which lays out a strategic vision for improving language interoperability and calls for community input.

The problem statement outlines three key strategic approaches:

  • Improve existing tools and address tactical issues within the Rust Project to reduce interoperability friction and risk in the short term.
  • Build consensus around long-term goals requiring changes to Rust itself and develop the tactical approaches to begin pursuing them.
  • Engage with the C++ community and committee to improve the quality of interoperation for both languages to help realize the mutual goals of safety and performance.

Rust/C++ Interoperability Initiative News

Recent Press

Have a question about the Interop Inititaive? Interested in supporting this work? Email us at interop@rustfoundation.org to start a conversation.