State of Rust Survey Highlights Growing Concerns About Complexity and Industry Adoption
Despite the growing adoption of Rust among professional developers, the 2023 State of Rust Survey reveals that significant concerns persist about the future of the language. The survey, conducted from December 18, 2023, to January 15, 2024, and published by the Rust Survey Team on February 19, 2024, highlights increasing apprehensions regarding Rust’s complexity and its limited uptake within the tech industry.
The survey, which engaged 11,950 participants with 82% completing it, shows a modest rise in the proportion of respondents identifying as Rust users, increasing from 91% in the previous year to 93% in 2023. However, this growth in user base contrasts with growing concerns among the community.
Among the 9,374 respondents who expressed their primary worries, a notable 43% are troubled by the potential for Rust to become excessively complex. This concern has risen by five percentage points compared to 2022. This increase reflects a broader apprehension about Rust’s evolving complexity potentially making it more challenging for developers to work with and maintain.
Another significant concern for 42% of respondents is the relatively low adoption of Rust in the broader tech industry. This reflects worries that despite Rust’s technical strengths, it remains underutilized compared to more established languages. This low industry adoption could impact Rust’s future growth and integration into mainstream technology stacks.
Additionally, 32% of respondents are concerned about insufficient support for Rust developers and maintainers, a figure that has risen by six percentage points from the previous year. This concern underscores the need for enhanced resources and support systems to sustain the Rust ecosystem and its community.
The survey also noted a decrease in the proportion of respondents who are not worried about Rust’s future, dropping from 30% in 2022 to just 18% in 2023. This decline suggests a growing sense of urgency among Rust users about addressing the language’s challenges to ensure its continued success and relevance in the software development landscape.