The 2023 State of Rust Survey reveals that developers’ primary concerns about Rust’s future are its increasing complexity and limited adoption across the tech industry.
The 2023 State of Rust Survey, conducted by the Rust Survey Team, highlights a mix of optimism and concern within the Rust community. Released on February 19, the report shows that while Rust continues to attract a growing user base, there are significant worries about its complexity and industry adoption.
The survey, which ran from December 18, 2023, to January 15, 2024, saw participation from 11,950 individuals, with 82% completing the survey. Among these respondents, 93% identified themselves as Rust users, up from 91% in 2022. This increase reflects a solid and growing interest in the language.
However, concerns about Rust’s future are prevalent. A notable 43% of respondents expressed worry that Rust may become too complex, marking a 5 percentage point increase from the previous year. This concern is tied to the language’s evolving features and the growing sophistication of its tooling, which some fear could lead to a steeper learning curve.
Another significant worry is the low level of Rust usage within the tech industry. Forty-two percent of respondents cited this as their primary concern. Despite Rust’s adoption in various high-profile projects and its increasing popularity, it remains relatively niche compared to more established languages like Python or Java.
Additionally, 32% of respondents expressed concern about the lack of proper support for Rust developers and maintainers, a 6 percentage point increase from 2022. This reflects a growing sentiment that while Rust is a powerful language, the community and infrastructure supporting it may not be keeping pace with its growth.
Interestingly, the percentage of respondents who were not concerned about Rust’s future decreased from 30% in 2022 to 18% in 2023. This shift indicates that while enthusiasm for Rust remains high, there is growing awareness and concern about the challenges facing the language.
Overall, while Rust’s community continues to expand and the language remains influential in certain sectors, these concerns highlight important areas for the Rust ecosystem to address. Ensuring that Rust remains accessible and relevant will be crucial as it evolves and seeks to broaden its impact across the tech industry.