NLnet Labs introduces Roto, a compiled scripting language designed specifically for extending Rust applications. Aiming to bridge the gap between embedded scripting (with languages like Lua) and native Rust extensions, Roto offers performance closer to native code while maintaining the flexibility and rapid iteration of a scripting language. It compiles to native code via LLVM, leverages Rust's type system and memory safety, and allows seamless interoperability with existing Rust code. Roto is still under active development but shows promise as a performant and safe way to script and extend Rust programs.
NLnet Labs has introduced Roto, a novel compiled scripting language specifically designed for integrating with Rust. Roto aims to bridge the gap between the performance of compiled languages and the flexibility of scripting languages, offering a powerful tool for extending Rust applications without sacrificing speed. The blog post details the motivations behind Roto's development and its core features.
A key motivation for creating Roto was the need for a scripting language that could seamlessly interact with Rust data structures and functions. Existing scripting solutions often require complex bridging mechanisms and data marshalling, which can negatively impact performance. Roto addresses this issue by leveraging Rust's type system and memory management, enabling direct access to Rust code with minimal overhead.
Roto achieves its performance through ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation. Unlike interpreted scripting languages, Roto scripts are compiled into native code before execution, resulting in significantly faster performance. This compilation process leverages the LLVM infrastructure, the same robust compiler technology used by Rust itself.
The language's syntax is inspired by Lua, known for its simplicity and ease of use. This design choice aims to make Roto accessible to a wide range of developers. Additionally, Roto features optional static typing, offering developers the choice between the flexibility of dynamic typing for rapid prototyping and the safety and performance benefits of static typing for production-ready code.
Roto's integration with Rust is further enhanced by its ability to define custom data types and functions directly within Rust code, making them readily available to Roto scripts. This deep integration allows developers to extend the functionality of their Rust applications in a highly efficient and maintainable manner.
The blog post highlights a practical use case for Roto within the context of the RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure), demonstrating its ability to streamline complex validation tasks. In this scenario, Roto scripts are utilized to define and execute validation rules, showcasing the language's potential for network security applications.
While still in its early stages of development, Roto demonstrates considerable promise as a powerful and efficient scripting solution for Rust. The project's focus on performance, seamless integration with Rust, and ease of use positions it as a valuable tool for developers looking to enhance the flexibility and extensibility of their Rust projects. The creators encourage community involvement and contributions to help shape the future of the language.
Summary of Comments ( 82 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44050222
HN commenters discuss Roto's potential, particularly for embedded systems and scenarios requiring quick iteration. Some express interest in its ability to potentially replace Lua while offering better performance and tighter Rust integration. Concerns arise about Roto's early stage of development and limited documentation. Several commenters question its practical advantages over existing scripting solutions or using Rust directly, particularly given the existence of similar projects. Others raise points about garbage collection, debugging, and the trade-offs between scripting and compiled languages. Finally, some discuss the difficulty of achieving the "holy grail" of a truly performant, easy-to-use scripting language embedded within a systems language.
The Hacker News post for "Roto: A Compiled Scripting Language for Rust" generated a moderate amount of discussion, with a number of commenters exploring various aspects of the language and its potential use cases.
Several commenters expressed interest in Roto's ability to address the complexities of build scripts and configuration management in Rust. They saw it as a potential solution to the awkwardness of using existing tools like
build.rsscripts, which often require dropping down to a lower level of abstraction and dealing with environment variables and process management. Roto's compiled nature and Rust integration were seen as advantageous in this context.There was a discussion around the tradeoffs between interpreted and compiled scripting languages. Some questioned whether a compiled scripting language truly offered significant advantages over an interpreted one, especially given the overhead of compilation. However, proponents of Roto countered that the performance benefits and tighter integration with Rust's type system outweighed the compilation costs, particularly in scenarios where the script is executed repeatedly.
A few commenters drew parallels between Roto and other scripting or extension languages like Lua and Dyon. They discussed the potential for Roto to fill a similar niche within the Rust ecosystem, enabling developers to extend Rust applications with dynamic scripting capabilities.
Some users also raised questions about Roto's specific features and implementation details, such as its garbage collection mechanism, error handling strategy, and the extent of its integration with existing Rust crates. These questions highlighted the desire for more information about the language's practical aspects and how it compares to alternative approaches.
A recurring theme was the desire for a more streamlined and ergonomic developer experience within the Rust ecosystem. Roto was viewed by some as a potential step in this direction, offering a more convenient way to handle tasks that are currently cumbersome or require workarounds.
Finally, there was some skepticism expressed about the long-term viability of Roto. Some commenters questioned whether it would gain sufficient traction and community support to become a widely adopted tool. However, others expressed optimism, noting the potential for Roto to address real pain points in the Rust development workflow.