Microsoft is actively encouraging Windows driver developers to adopt Rust, a modern programming language renowned for its memory safety features. This strategic shift aims to enhance the security and reliability of drivers, particularly those integral to Surface devices.
The Surface team has been at the forefront of this transition, contributing to the open-source project windows-drivers-rs on GitHub. This initiative provides libraries, tools, and example code to assist developers in writing Windows drivers using Rust. Early implementations have demonstrated improved security and reliability in hardware communication, primarily due to Rust's inherent memory safety capabilities. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Traditionally, Windows drivers have been developed using C and C++, languages that, while powerful, are prone to memory-related vulnerabilities. Rust addresses these issues by catching errors at compile time, thereby reducing crashes and security flaws. Microsoft views this as a crucial step toward bolstering the overall stability of the Windows ecosystem. (blogs.windows.com)
To facilitate this transition, Microsoft is enhancing support for Rust within its driver development toolkit. Plans include improving platform compatibility, bridging feature gaps between Rust and the traditional Windows Driver Kit, and offering more open-source components to streamline the development process. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
By backing projects like windows-drivers-rs and publicly advocating for Rust adoption, Microsoft signals its commitment to making Rust a mainstream option for building safer and more reliable Windows drivers.
Source: Windows Report Microsoft urges Windows driver developers to use Rust, here's why
