For years C and C++ have been the dominant system programming languages, especially for high-performance and embedded applications. While I don't think that will change any time soon, there is an interesting alternative that has been increasingly growing in popularity: Rust. Let's take a look at this up-and-coming programming language and what you need to know about it. About Rust Rust is a compiled language, with performance comparable to C++ and a syntax that is also similar to C++. It is suitable for much of the same problem domains as C++: systems programming and the development of large complex systems. Its main distinguishing characteristic is that it is designed for memory safety without sacrificing performance. It can guarantee memory safety by using a borrow checker  to validate references. Unlike some other languages, it does not use garbage collection and reference counting is optional.…