The Power of Rust: The Future of Automotive Software Development

Unforeseen complexities and unpredictable issues are part and parcel of software development.

This article explores how the Rust programming language can help combat these challenges in automotive software development.

A Tale of Two Faults

Software faults can be broadly classified into two types, similar to the cause of electrical failures. The first type of software fault can be detected and corrected with improved testing and coverage analysis. These are akin to short circuits in electrical systems, where the problem is readily observable, and the solution is relatively straightforward.

The second type of software fault is more elusive, similar to loose connections in electrical systems. These faults can cause major failures and are difficult to identify and replicate in test conditions. They are often the result of data races and memory corruption. Addressing these errors can be time-consuming and, in some cases, nearly impossible.

The Developer's Dilemma

Now, let's look at this issue from the perspective of a developer working on embedded automotive software, specifically a system based on Adaptive Autosar that uses C++14 as the primary programming language. This developer needs to be well-versed in the new features of C++14 while also understanding how to use them effectively.

Even after running static code analyzers and correcting potential errors, there's no guarantee that the code is free from data races or memory errors. This is especially problematic for multi-threaded software that runs on multiple cores, a common scenario in modern system software.

Rust: The Silver Bullet?

Enter Rust, a programming language developed by Mozilla Research. Rust was born out of Mozilla's brave decision to build their new servo browser engine using this language. Since its inception in 2006, Rust has been refined and perfected, now offering a stable platform for developers.

Unlike Google's Golang, Rust did not witness rapid growth initially. However, this slow and steady development proved to be a blessing. Rust was able to develop its unique features and strengths over time, ensuring safety, speed, and concurrency in any software developed using it.

Rust: Safety, Speed, and Concurrency

Rust's primary advantage is its guarantee of memory safety and freedom from data races. This is a bold claim, but Rust delivers on it. The language is also very expressive, drawing concepts from functional programming languages. It also provides mechanisms to disable safety checks (unsafe blocks) when necessary, giving a clear indication of potentially unsafe areas in the code.

Performance Matters: Rust vs. C++

A key question that arises when discussing memory safety and freedom from data races is the impact on performance. With Rust, developers will be pleasantly surprised to learn that there is no compromise on performance. The Rust compiler performs all checks at compile time, ensuring there is no runtime overhead. The performance of Rust is comparable to C++.

The Benefits of Rust in System Software Development

Rust's ability to ensure code is free from data races or memory corruption at compile time is a boon for system software and embedded software development. It reduces debugging time and increases developer productivity.

Rust doesn't require a runtime or a garbage collector, making it possible to write bare metal software. It allows seamless interfacing with C code and even supports writing a Linux Kernel module in Rust.

Rust is opinionated in its naming conventions, which is beneficial for organizations as they do not need to spend time defining coding conventions and style guides. It also comes with a ready-to-use code formatter.

Rust includes a package manager and build system called Cargo, which means you don’t have to fuss with build files to start building your code. Cargo supports the concept of features that can be enabled to include or exclude code during builds conditionally.

The Challenges of Adopting Rust

Despite its many advantages, Rust does come with its share of challenges. These include a steep learning curve, inertia by developers and businesses in moving away from C and C++, and the fact that Rust is LLVM-based and does not support as many legacy targets as GCC does.

Getting Started with Rust

Transitioning to a new programming language is a significant step and is unlikely to happen overnight. A gradual approach, starting with smaller components of the system, can be beneficial. Rust provides excellent learning resources, including the official Rust programming language book.

Conclusion: The Future is Rust

As we move towards a future where multi-core systems are the norm, it's clear that Rust is well-positioned to lead the way, particularly in the automotive software sector.

At Acsia, we are at the forefront of implementing Rust in the automotive sector to create faster and more efficient systems. If you are curious about how Rust can improve your offerings, connect with us to learn more.

The future is Rust, and it's time to embrace it.