Alex Gleason on Nostr: Although I still dislike Rust, if it improves performance that much it's basically a ...

Although I still dislike Rust, if it improves performance that much it's basically a moral imperative for self-hosting freedom tech. It means it can run on lower-end (old or recycled) hardware, costs less to run, and uses less energy so it's literally better for people and the environment. I was against it because it made it harder to develop on and harder for people to contribute. It is anti-inclusive. Those things are still true. But AI is making those points no longer relevant. I still think that what we call "apps" should be built for the web, because the web is the greatest software distribution platform of all time. The benefits there still far outweigh the tradeoffs. But for servers, Rust does make sense. Especially since the future we're working towards has as few different types of servers as possible. Internet infrastructure will be standardized into Nostr relays, Blossom servers, bots, and gateways. For those backbone services that serve thousands of users, performance matters more than developer inclusivity. For "apps" that serve one user on their own device, inclusivity and ease of distribution matters more.