Key Points
- A Microsoft engineer posted a goal to eliminate C and C++ by 2030.
- He later clarified that this is a research project, not a plan to rewrite Windows.
- The project aims to use AI to update millions of lines of code automatically.
- Microsoft is already investing $10 million to make Rust a top language.
A Microsoft engineer named Galen Hunt caused quite a stir after he shared a bold goal on LinkedIn: to “eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030.” He even advertised a job opening on his team to help make it happen. The post quickly generated significant buzz in the tech world.
The job description stated that the team was seeking someone to translate Microsoft’s core systems from C and C++ into Rust, a newer, safer programming language. However, as the post gained more attention, Hunt had to add an important clarification. He updated the message to say, “Just to clarify… Windows is NOT being rewritten in Rust with AI […] My team’s project is a research project.”
While Microsoft isn’t planning to discontinue its most famous operating system, the research project itself is ambitious.
Hunt explained that his team is developing tools that use artificial intelligence to fix and update millions of lines of legacy code automatically. Their goal is to reach a point where a single engineer can modify one million lines of code in just one month—a task that would normally be impossible.
This research highlights a bigger trend happening across the tech industry. Even though Hunt’s plan isn’t official company policy, Microsoft has already spent $10 million to make Rust a “first-class language” for its engineers.
The reason for the shift is simple: C and C++ are famous for having “memory safety bugs” that can lead to serious security problems. Google has made a similar commitment, migrating parts of its Android operating system to Rust to improve security.
While Windows isn’t getting a Rust makeover anytime soon, this engineer’s post shows that the winds of change are definitely blowing.
