Rust 1.91: ARM64 Windows Support & Enhanced Memory Safety Features

Rust 1.91 enhances cross-platform development with Tier 1 ARM64 Windows support and improved raw pointer safety warnings, strengthening memory safety and developer tools.

Tech News1 min read

Introduction

Rust 1.91 introduces significant platform support and safety enhancements, including Tier 1 ARM64 Windows support and improved raw pointer warnings, strengthening cross-platform development and memory safety.

ARM64 Windows Platform Support

Rust 1.91 elevates aarch64-pc-windows-msvc to Tier 1, ensuring reliable compilation and testing for ARM64 Windows devices like Surface Pro X, facilitating multi-arch development with programming language tools.

Raw Pointer Safety Enhancements

A new lint warns when raw pointers to local variables are returned, addressing memory safety issues outside the borrow checker, reducing bugs in unsafe code for systems programming and complementing debugger workflows.

Additional Language Improvements

The release stabilizes APIs for common tasks, maintaining performance and safety, with minor enhancements and bug fixes benefiting text editors and build tools across environments.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

Enhanced ARM64 Windows development support
Improved raw pointer safety warnings
Better cross-platform compilation capabilities
Expanded API surface for developers
Stronger memory safety guarantees
Improved developer experience

Disadvantages

Learning curve for new safety features
Potential migration effort for existing code
Increased compilation complexity for multi-arch

Conclusion

Rust 1.91 advances safety and cross-platform development with Tier 1 ARM64 Windows support and raw pointer warnings, making it valuable for systems programming and developer tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tier 1 support mean for ARM64 Windows in Rust?

Tier 1 support means the aarch64-pc-windows-msvc target receives the highest level of maintenance, guaranteed builds, and comprehensive testing, making it production-ready for ARM64 Windows development.

How do raw pointer warnings improve Rust safety?

The new lint warns when raw pointers to local variables are returned from functions, catching potential memory safety issues that the borrow checker doesn't track, enhancing unsafe code safety.

What is Tier 1 support in Rust?

Tier 1 support indicates that a target platform receives full maintenance, guaranteed builds, and is production-ready with comprehensive testing.

How do raw pointers work in Rust?

Raw pointers in Rust are unsafe pointers that allow direct memory access without borrow checker restrictions, used in systems programming for low-level operations.

What are the key features of Rust 1.91?

Key features include Tier 1 ARM64 Windows support, enhanced raw pointer safety warnings, and stabilized APIs for improved developer experience.