There are probably only a handful of open-source projects that had a bigger impact on the world than Mozilla Thunderbird. The email client has been around for over two decades and has been a staple for many users (me included). Dealing with a legacy codebase that servers millions of users is no easy feat. The team at MZLA, a subsidiary of Mozilla, has been working hard to modernize the core of Thunderbird by writing new parts in Rust. In this episode, I talk to Brendan Abolivier, a software engineer at MZLA, about the challenges of working on a legacy codebase, the new Rust-based Exchange protocol support, which is the first new protocol in Thunderbird in over a decade, and the future of Thunderbird.
Om Podcasten
This is "Rust in Production", a podcast about companies who use Rust to shape the future of infrastructure. We follow their journey in pursuit of more reliable and efficient software as they solve some of the most challenging technical problems in the world.
Each episode dives deep into real-world applications of Rust, showcasing how this powerful systems programming language is revolutionizing the way we build and maintain critical infrastructure. From startups to tech giants, we explore the diverse landscape of organizations leveraging Rust's unique features to create safer, faster, and more scalable systems.
Our guests share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in adopting Rust for production environments. Listen in as we discuss topics such as concurrent programming, memory safety, performance optimization, and how Rust's ownership model contributes to building robust software systems. Whether you're a seasoned Rust developer, an infrastructure engineer, or a tech leader considering Rust for your next project, "Rust in Production" offers valuable insights and practical knowledge.
Release Schedule
"Rust in Production" releases new episodes every other Thursday at 4 PM UTC. Our podcast is structured into seasons, each featuring a diverse range of companies and experts in the Rust ecosystem. Recent episodes have included:
- Season 2: Interviews with representatives from System76, Fusion Engineering, OxidOS, Matic, Thunderbird, AMP, and curl.
- Season 1: Conversations with leaders from Sentry, Tweede Golf, Arroyo, Apollo, PubNub, and InfluxData.
What You'll Learn
- Real-world case studies of Rust implementation in production environments
- Insights into how companies overcome technical challenges using Rust
- Best practices for adopting Rust in various infrastructure contexts
- The impact of Rust on software reliability, efficiency, and scalability
- Future trends in systems programming and infrastructure development
Join us as we uncover the latest trends in Rust development, explore best practices for using Rust in production, and examine how this language is addressing some of the most pressing issues in modern software engineering. From web services and databases to embedded systems and cloud infrastructure, we cover the full spectrum of Rust's impact on the tech industry.