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0 pointspjmlp5y ago0 comments

With C++ I can get zero cost abstractions without Rust like compilation times, in spite C++ fame of slow compile times.

How?

By making heavy use of binary third party dependencies, every module gets its own binary library, no crazy use of metaprogramming, incremental compilation and linking.

My WinUI/UWP professional work compile in a fraction of my Gtk-rs toy applications.

I keep measuring improvements in this area, and hopefully Microsoft's own pain with Rust/WinRT might trigger some improvements.

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2 comments · 1 top-level

littlestymaar5y ago· 1 in thread

> By making heavy use of binary third party dependencies

I use Rust because I need performance, then I compile my Rust code for the exact CPU instructions available on my target machine and with PGO, binary dependencies can't do that.

Also, binary third party come with a lot of hassle (compiler version & options used can break your build) so I'm really glad Rust took the source-code dependency route instead (at least by default).

You can use binary dependencies though, as long as you compile everything with the same compiler it will works.

pjmlpOP5y ago

Except that doesn't work for the business of selling binary libraries for mobile and mainstream desktop OSes.

The only hassle is not wanting to learn how to use compiled languages properly, that is how we end up with the brain dead idea of header only libraries.

Regarding performance, Rust still needs to catch up with C++ in many domains.

There are plenty of reasons why C++ is my to go language outside my managed language options, despite my appreciation for Rust, and C++'s caveats of copy-paste compatibility with C.

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