Rust vs C++: Which Language Should You Learn for Systems Programming?

Systems programming requires control over hardware and performance optimization, which is why C++ has long been the dominant language in this field. However, Rust, a modern alternative, is quickly gaining traction due to its focus on memory safety, performance, and concurrency.

In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between Rust and C++ for systems programming and help you decide which language is best for your next project.

1. Memory Safety

One of the most significant distinctions between Rust and C++ is memory safety. C++ gives developers full control over memory management through manual techniques like pointer manipulation, which, while powerful, can lead to bugs such as buffer overflows, memory leaks, and dangling pointers. These issues often result in runtime crashes or security vulnerabilities.

Rust, on the other hand, introduces a borrow checker and an ownership model that automatically ensures memory safety at compile time. Rust’s strict rules prevent common errors like dangling pointers and double frees, making it far less prone to memory-related bugs.

Example: In C++, you can have:

int* ptr = new int(5);
delete ptr;
*ptr = 10; // Dangling pointer error