Code Matters: Reflections on Rust in the LLM Age
Bryan Cantrill examines the enduring relevance of well-crafted code, specifically Rust, amidst the rise of large language models, discussing abstraction, ownership, and software integrity.
Why does code still matter when LLMs can write it? Bryan Cantrill traces Rust’s infrastructure-first design to explain what we should preserve as software development changes.
Recorded at Rust NYC, this talk connects abstraction and accidental complexity with Rust’s ownership model, safety, and performance. Bryan explores compiler feedback, the crate ecosystem, the risk of generating unnecessary work, Gas Town as a cautionary tale, and using LLMs to deepen understanding. The full Q&A covers disciplined use, writing policy at Oxide, Clojure, software craftsmanship, and async cancellation safety.
Seminar notes & discussion
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