A Microsoft distinguished engineer has recently addressed the growing speculation surrounding the company’s intentions regarding its programming languages. Galen Hunt, who initially ignited discussions with a LinkedIn post about a project aimed at rewriting vast swathes of Microsoft’s code using AI and Rust, has clarified that this initiative is strictly research-focused. He emphasized that there is no concrete plan to phase out C and C++ from Windows by 2030.
In his update, Hunt remarked that his original message “generated far more attention than I intended.” He reassured stakeholders that the Windows operating system is not undergoing a transformation to Rust with the assistance of AI, a misinterpretation that many took from his initial announcement.
Research project, not Windows roadmap: Clarifies Microsoft engineer
Hunt’s team is engaged in developing innovative technology designed to facilitate large-scale code migration between programming languages. Their ambitious goal is to enable “1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code.” This project combines AI agents with algorithmic infrastructure to process and modify code on an extensive scale. However, Hunt was keen to stress that this remains an experimental endeavor within Microsoft’s Future of Scalable Software Engineering group, rather than an official strategy for Windows 11 or any future iterations.
The need for clarification arose after various tech media outlets interpreted Hunt’s original post as a definitive roadmap to replace Microsoft’s entire C and C++ codebase with Rust by the end of the decade. To further this research, his team is currently seeking a Principal Software Engineer with a minimum of three years of experience in Rust.
Microsoft’s ongoing Rust adoption continues
While Hunt’s specific project is rooted in research, Microsoft has been progressively integrating Rust into its products over the past few years. The company began rewriting segments of the Windows kernel in Rust in 2023, and Azure CTO Mark Russinovich has previously affirmed that Microsoft is “all-in” on adopting the memory-safe language for new projects.
Rust provides inherent protections against common programming errors that often lead to security vulnerabilities, particularly those related to memory issues that have historically affected C and C++ codebases. Although Hunt’s research aims to expedite such migrations through AI-assisted translation, he clarified that Rust is not necessarily the ultimate destination for all Microsoft code.
This initiative reflects Microsoft’s broader commitment to investing in AI-powered development tools, although the timeline and scope of these efforts remain less certain than initially implied.
