After reading http://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2019/07/10/aic-unbounded-queues-and-lang-design/ it seems to me that the main issue of Rust development is that quite simply there aren’t enough people working on the Rust compiler to timely implement all RFCs that are conceived and accepted.
So IMHO the best solution is to make changes that would persuade other people and entities to provide more money to employ Rust developers or directly employ developers to work on the compiler.
Ideas for that:
- If possible, setup a Rust foundation separate from Mozilla
- Provide a way to set up one-shot and recurring donations to the foundation or to Mozilla earmarked for Rust
- Provide a way for companies to pay recurring money in exchange for “partner status”
- Give core team seats to partners paying enough money (e.g. 3 highest paying partners or anyone giving >$10-100m per year), and also give them advertising according to partnership level up to being mentioned as co-maintainers of Rust along with Mozilla
- Require payment for the service of adding code under NDA to crater runs and for any similar service (either directly or by making it available only to partners paying enough money)
- Figure out other ways of motivating large tech companies into giving money or employing Rust developers (esp. those who don’t already have major support for other programming languages, like Facebook and Amazon)
- Create a “looking for employment” system where companies can easily find people with experience working on the Rust compiler who are looking for someone to employ them to work it (this can also be extended to general Rust software development)
- Provide an easy way to pay to get a particular feature completed, by simply paying money for that feature or being willing to hire someone and letting the Rust team figure out how to spend it or who should be hired
- Provide a way to pay a high price to get an issue prioritized or get immediate support for Rust issues, targeted at companies, also perhaps as a support subscription model, possibly tied with partnership
- Look at how to make it easy for PhD students to improve Rust as part of their thesis work
- Look at whether it’s possible to get academic or general government (US, EU, etc.) grants for some improvements to Rust