Why the Kernel Pins a Minimum Rust Version
The kernel does not accept just any Rust compiler. It names a minimum version, currently 1.85, chosen to match what mainstream Linux distributions ship so that anyone can build the kernel with the compiler they already have. The kernel also still relies on a few unfinished compiler features, which it switches on explicitly rather than requiring an unstable compiler. This is why you may be told your compiler is too old, and why you cannot simply use the newest experimental features you read about.
Questions this Concept answers
- Why does the kernel hold its minimum supported Rust version well behind the newest stable compiler?
The Linux Kernel's Minimum Rust Version Supported Prepares For Rust 1.85 Baseline
This page explains the kernel's rule about which Rust compiler versions it will build with. There is a minimum supported version, and code in the tree may not use anything newer than that, so everyon…