TL;DR
Microsoft distinguished engineer Galen Hunt said the company intends to move its C and C++ code to Rust, setting an aspirational 2030 timeline and a productivity target summarized as '1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines.' The effort will pair algorithmic tooling with AI agents and includes hiring for a principal engineer role to build the translation infrastructure.
What happened
In a LinkedIn post, Microsoft engineer Galen Hunt outlined an initiative to transition the company's C and C++ code to Rust, with an explicit aim to remove those languages from Microsoft's codebase by 2030. Hunt said the strategy combines algorithmic systems and AI to perform large-scale code modifications, and referenced an internal job posting for a Principal Software Engineer to develop the required tooling. The team driving the work is the Future of Scalable Software Engineering group, which Hunt described as building capabilities to eliminate technical debt at scale and to prototype tools with internal partners before wider deployment. Microsoft already reports having built a code-processing platform that creates a scalable graph of source code and an AI processing layer that applies agents to modify code. The company has previously promoted Rust internally, produced conversion tools for some C code, and developed Rust tooling for Windows drivers. The posting notes the role is based in Redmond three days a week and lists a salary range of about $139,900 to $274,800.
Why it matters
- Memory-safety benefits: Rust reduces classes of vulnerabilities common in C/C++, which can improve security across Microsoft products.
- Scale and complexity: Microsoft’s large product portfolio and internal IT estate mean the migration will be a major engineering undertaking.
- AI-driven code transformation: Combining algorithmic analysis with AI agents represents a new approach to automating large-scale code rewrites.
- Industry signal: Microsoft pushing a move to Rust could influence broader adoption of memory-safe languages and tooling practices.
Key facts
- Galen Hunt said Microsoft aims to remove C and C++ from its codebase by 2030.
- Hunt described a productivity aspiration summed up as '1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines.'
- A Principal Software Engineer job ad seeks someone to help evolve infrastructure for translating Microsoft’s largest C and C++ systems to Rust.
- The Future of Scalable Software Engineering group is tasked with building capabilities to eliminate technical debt at scale.
- Microsoft says it has built code-processing infrastructure that creates a scalable graph over source code at scale.
- An AI processing infrastructure is intended to apply AI agents, guided by algorithms, to make code modifications at scale.
- Microsoft has previously urged greater use of Rust and developed tools that convert some C code to Rust.
- The company has also produced tooling to help developers write Windows drivers in Rust.
- The referenced job requires three days a week in Microsoft’s Redmond office and lists a salary range of $139,900–$274,800.
- A public site (MSportals.io) lists more than 500 active online portals for managing Microsoft products, highlighting the scale of the estate involved.
What to watch next
- Whether Microsoft meets its stated 2030 target for eliminating C/C++ across its codebase — not confirmed in the source.
- Rollout and effectiveness of the translation tools and AI agents when applied to large, real-world products.
- How rapidly other Microsoft product groups adopt the generated Rust code and the impact on product stability — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Rust: A systems programming language designed to provide memory safety without a garbage collector, using ownership and borrowing rules to prevent common bugs.
- Memory-safe language: A programming language that includes features or checks that prevent common memory errors such as buffer overflows and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
- AI agent: A software component that performs tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously, often using machine learning models to make decisions or generate code.
- Technical debt: The accumulated cost of shortcuts or outdated design decisions in software that make future changes harder or riskier.
Reader FAQ
Is Microsoft definitely going to eliminate all C and C++ by 2030?
Galen Hunt stated that as a goal, but whether the company will achieve full elimination by 2030 is not confirmed in the source.
Why is Microsoft moving to Rust?
The move is motivated by Rust’s memory-safety properties, which reduce certain security risks associated with C and C++.
Will AI fully automate the code translation?
Microsoft says it will combine algorithmic infrastructure and AI agents to rewrite code at scale, but the extent of full automation and how it will handle edge cases is not confirmed in the source.
Is Microsoft hiring for this project?
Yes. The post references a Principal Software Engineer role tied to the translation effort, with a Redmond in-office expectation and a listed salary range.
SOFTWARE 81 Microsoft wants to replace its entire C and C++ codebase, perhaps by 2030 Plans move to Rust, with help from AI Simon Sharwood Wed 24 Dec 2025 // 03:39 UTC Microsoft wants…
Sources
- Microsoft wants to replace its entire C and C++ codebase, perhaps by 2030
- Microsoft wants to replace its entire C and C++ codebase
- Microsoft wants AI to eliminate C and C++ code by 2030
- Microsoft building team to eliminate C and C++, translate …
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