US Government Advocates for Transition to Memory-Safe Programming Languages
The US government wants developers to stop using C and C++ 🔗
The US government, through agencies like CISA and the FBI, is urging developers to abandon "memory-unsafe" programming languages like C and C++ in favor of more secure alternatives such as Rust, Java, and Python. This push is driven by concerns about security vulnerabilities associated with memory management errors, which account for a significant portion of software vulnerabilities. Despite the recommendations, transitioning to these newer languages poses challenges, including the time-consuming nature of code conversion, potential performance issues, and the costs associated with updating development tools. Many developers and companies are resistant to this change, prioritizing immediate performance over long-term security benefits. As a result, a significant shift to memory-safe languages is viewed as unlikely in the near future.
Why is the US government urging developers to stop using C and C++?
The US government is concerned about security vulnerabilities that arise from memory management errors in C and C++. They recommend transitioning to memory-safe languages to reduce risks to national security and public safety.
What challenges do developers face when switching from C to memory-safe languages?
Developers face several challenges, including the time and resources needed to convert existing codebases, potential performance slowdowns, and the costs of updating development tools and integrating new programs with existing systems.
How does CISA view the long-term benefits of transitioning to memory-safe languages?
CISA argues that the long-term benefits of reduced vulnerabilities and improved security outweigh the initial costs of transitioning to memory-safe languages, and they are encouraging companies to develop roadmaps for this transition by 2026.