Rust & CRUX: The Future of Sustainable Enterprise Software Development?

We recently hosted a workshop and Meetup with an audience of developers and digital product leaders to showcase our findings in the using Rust and CRUX for sustainable enterprise software development, and we're thrilled to share the insights with you.

Why Rust is a Game-Changer in Enterprise

Rust is not just another programming language; it's a solution to many issues that enterprises deeply care about. The key benefits of Rust lie in its emphasis on quality and sustainability. Rust's strict compiler ensures that only high-quality code gets past it, significantly reducing bugs that are costly to fix. This leads to software that is not just reliable and maintainable, but also delightful to use.

But that's not all. Rust's backward compatibility ensures that software written in Rust years ago will still compile and run exactly the same today. This longevity reduces the need for complete rewrites and extends the life of software, leading to more sustainable practices in software development.

Introducing CRUX: A New Approach to Multi-Platform Digital Products

At Red Badger, we're always looking for ways to drive innovation and efficiency. That's why we've pioneered CRUX, an open-source framework built in Rust that helps you write native User Interface applications for Mobile, Web, Desktop, and beyond, faster and with fewer bugs.

CRUX allows you to share your application’s behaviour as a single and easy-to-test Rust core that you can reuse with confidence on every platform. This means you can build your app once, test it once, and deploy it everywhere. The behaviour of your application becomes the "crux" of your software, ensuring that it's well-tested and consistent across all platforms.

>> Check out our video of our Chief Scientist Stu Harris speaking at Rust Nation 2023!

The Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Of course, adopting Rust and CRUX in enterprise settings is not a walk in the park. There's resistance, often stemming from Rust's reputation for being harder to learn due to its strictness and high quality bar. But here's the thing: the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial learning curve.

Rust's strictness helps prevent large codebases from descending into chaos. Its strong type system and toolchain, which includes cargo, rust format, and rust analyser, among others, make it easier to maintain and extend software. So, while the learning curve might be steep, the view from the top is absolutely worth it.

Rust, CRUX, and Sustainability: A Perfect Match

Sustainability in software development is a topic close to our hearts. Rust and CRUX promote sustainability by making software easy to maintain and extend. Rust's strictness and high-quality bar mean that software written in Rust is less likely to need extensive overhauls or complete rewrites, making it a more sustainable choice in the long run.

The Future is Rust and CRUX

We're incredibly optimistic about the future of Rust and CRUX in digital product companies. With their focus on quality and sustainability, Rust and CRUX are poised to play a significant role in the future of digital product development in large companies. As more enterprises recognise the benefits of Rust and CRUX, we're confident that their adoption will continue to grow.

So, are you ready to embrace Rust and CRUX in your enterprise?