Should I choose Ada, SPARK, or Rust over C/C++?
Key Takeaways
- C/C++ remains the default choice for embedded systems but poses increasing risks for producing safe and secure software.
- Rust and Ada are presented as superior alternatives offering higher levels of safety and security compared to C/C++.
- Rust has a vibrant community and extensive resources, though its commercial ecosystem is still maturing.
- Ada offers a complete and mature ecosystem, including toolchain availability and necessary certification documentation.
- SPARK, based on Ada, enables industrial-strength formal methods to mathematically prove software safety and security statically.
AdaCore supports developers of high-integrity embedded software using C/C++, Ada/SPARK, and Rust in 2024, acknowledging that while C/C++ is the default choice due to existing infrastructure and staff training, a growing body of evidence suggests it complicates the production of safe and secure software. Teams seeking alternatives have Rust and Ada, both of which raise the bar for safety; Rust benefits from a vibrant, fast-growing community, while Ada offers a complete and mature ecosystem with extensive certification documentation. Language capabilities also differ, with Rust emphasizing memory safety flexibility and Ada featuring an unmatched specification language for constraint checking. For those willing to invest further to mitigate C/C++ risks, SPARK, based on Ada, provides industrial-strength formal methods, allowing developers to mathematically prove software safety and security statically, going beyond the basic checks offered by standard Ada or Rust features.
