: Microsoft sheds light on the future of C and C++ languages

As the world of programming evolves at a breakneck pace, the debate around the future of classic languages such as C and C++ continues to generate much ink. The American giant Microsoft, holder of one of the largest codebases in these languages, now positions itself at the heart of this discussion. The prospect of a complete replacement of its existing code, until now dominated by C/C++, with a more modern language like Rust by 2030, generates both enthusiasm and concern within the software development community.

This announcement does not arise from a simple change in trend but relies on major technological advances, notably in the field of artificial intelligence, which Microsoft is leveraging to automate and secure the transition. This long-term project aims to rethink the very foundations of computer development, putting an end to a certain form of “hegemony” of historical languages in the face of growing demands for security and robustness.

The challenges associated with this evolution raise questions both about the sustainability of established technologies and about the ability of innovations to profoundly transform programming methods. So, what really is the future of C and C++ at Microsoft? What is the place of Rust and AI in this colossal endeavor? Our detailed analysis invites you to dive behind the scenes of this revolution in progress.

Microsoft and historical development in C and C++: an indispensable legacy

For decades, Microsoft has been building and maintaining the bulk of its major software infrastructures mainly relying on the C and C++ languages. These languages, born respectively in the 1970s and 1980s, have been at the heart of the rise of modern computing, particularly in the development of operating systems like Windows, cloud environments such as Azure, as well as countless tools and applications.

The architecture of modern systems still heavily relies on this foundation, notably because C/C++ offer fine control over hardware resources, high performance, and compatibility with a wide range of hardware. These major assets have established them as essential languages in sectors such as embedded systems, video games, or applications requiring maximum optimization.

However, this legacy is also a source of significant challenges. For example, the manual memory management typical of C and C++ exposes developers to critical errors such as memory leaks, buffer overflows, or data corruption. These vulnerabilities can have severe consequences in terms of security, making the products and services offered by Microsoft vulnerable.

A large and historical codebase, a challenge for innovation

Microsoft currently manages millions of lines of code written in C and C++, accumulated over years of development. This technical debt, while ensuring continuity and stability of systems, however slows the rapid introduction of new technologies and concepts. Maintaining, optimizing, and securing these complex codebases becomes a real organizational and technical challenge.

To illustrate, a single engineer at Microsoft could spend a month understanding, modifying, or even rewriting nearly one million lines of code, which shows the magnitude of the task. This reality imposes a long-term strategic reflection on which languages to prioritize for the future, especially as cybersecurity threats intensify and demand for security becomes an absolute imperative.

Traditional methods of code review and correction now appear insufficient in the face of growing complexity. Thus, despite its historical grounding, development in C/C++ must contend with the rising prominence of emerging languages better suited to contemporary demands. It is in this context that the choice of Rust carries significant weight, presenting an attractive alternative to improve security without sacrificing performance.

The emergence of Rust: a language of the future for Microsoft

The Rust language, created in the last decade, stands out by an innovative approach to memory management and a strong focus on security thanks to a rigorous typing system and an almost total absence of null pointers or leaks. Its rise in system environments is notably explained by its ability to avoid common errors in C and C++ code.

Faced with these advantages, Microsoft has made a massive investment of about 10 million dollars to support Rust and make it a fully-fledged first-class language within system engineering. The goal is to use Rust to drastically reduce flaws related to memory management, those historical vulnerabilities that have often affected the security of programs written in C and C++.

This strategy fits into a broader movement where other industry players, such as Google, also adopt Rust. For example, Google has integrated Rust into Android projects to complement Java and Kotlin, aiming to improve reliability and security at the level of the world’s most used mobile operating system.

Concrete advantages of Rust for security and reliability

Rust offers among others:

• Automatic memory control through borrowing preventing dangerous concurrent access or leaks.
• Strong type management reducing errors at compile time rather than at runtime.
• A modern ecosystem that facilitates integration with modern development tools and CI/CD workflows.
• Performance close to that of C/C++, without the inherent risks of those languages.

These characteristics make Rust a future pillar for system software development, notably in critical projects requiring enhanced robustness and security. But how to manage the transition when dealing with millions of lines of existing code?

Artificial intelligence at the heart of Microsoft’s transition to Rust

Microsoft does not just promote Rust as the future language; the company also relies on artificial intelligence to automate the migration of code written in C and C++ to Rust. Using sophisticated AI agents, Microsoft has developed an algorithmic infrastructure capable of analyzing, understanding, and transforming millions of lines of code.

This revolutionary approach answers an urgent need: to reduce the “technical debt” represented by legacy code, while accelerating the update to languages that are more secure and aligned with current standards. AI acts as an ultra-fast copilot, capable of identifying patterns, flaws, and possible optimizations in code too voluminous to be handled manually within a reasonable timeframe.

Operation of Microsoft’s algorithmic infrastructure

The key to the system lies in an evolving graph of source code, a kind of dynamic map that captures relationships between files, functions, variables, and dependencies. This mapping allows AI agents to act contextually and selectively, modifying only what is necessary to make the code conform to the modern best practices embodied by Rust.

This technology also enables large-scale analysis, envisaging processing up to one million lines of code per engineer per month, which was unthinkable a few years ago. This project, initiated by Galen Hunt’s team, illustrates Microsoft’s ability to combine technological innovation and industrial needs for securing infrastructure.

• Thanks to artificial intelligence, the conversion avoids common human errors during manual rewriting.
• Automation significantly reduces migration times compared to traditional methods.
• Continuous monitoring by AI allows progressive and iterative improvement of the migrated code.

Succeeding in this techno-industrial bet could become a model for the entire IT sector seeking to modernize complex infrastructures. But what about the future of C and C++ languages within Microsoft itself?

Maintaining C and C++ alongside growing adoption of Rust: a delicate balance

Despite this momentum towards Rust, Microsoft maintains a balanced position regarding the sustainability of C and C++ languages. It is not about a scheduled disappearance or a publicly declared “sunsetting,” but rather about a progressive and hierarchical transition.

These languages remain ubiquitous in many fundamental components of Windows, Azure, and various internal tools. Their proven reliability, the vast expertise of technical teams, and the immense volume of actively maintained code in C/C++ are realities heavily weighing on strategy. Simply discarding these traditional technologies would be not only unrealistic but also risky for product stability.

This sustained presence illustrated by Microsoft underlines that C and C++ are not on the path to extinction, but evolve towards a less exclusive role, where priority now goes to security and collaborative innovation with other languages. A new hybridization of programming environments could emerge from this complementarity.

A comparative table of key features between C, C++ and Rust

Criterion	C	C++	Rust
Memory control	manual	manual with RAII	automatic by borrowing
Error handling	basic (error codes)	exceptions	Result and Option with compiler safety
Security	frequent flaws (pointers)	improved but vulnerable	very high, avoids most common errors
Performance	very high	very high	equivalent, sometimes superior
Complexity	simple to medium	high	medium, with a moderate learning curve

This table illustrates how computing choices around programming languages impact not only programming daily but also the final quality of produced systems. The direction taken by Microsoft therefore corresponds to a pragmatic compromise blending heritage and innovation.

Security challenges and bug hunting, a driver for change

At a time when cyberattacks are multiplying, memory-related flaws in C and C++ applications represent a prime target for hackers. Microsoft has strengthened its security policy by extending its bug bounty program, now including projects that were not necessarily initially concerned. This decision reflects an increased strategic awareness where IT robustness becomes a key driver of innovation.

Reducing vulnerabilities thus requires a combined effort: developing on safer languages like Rust while improving code review and analysis processes with AI. This synergy embodies a new era, where technology meets growing industrial demands for software quality.

Advanced practices to master codebase security

• Continuous integration and automated testing to quickly detect regressions or vulnerabilities.
• Static code analysis with AI-driven tools allowing proactive vulnerability detection.
• Expanded bug bounty programs to encourage the community to submit flaws.
• Ongoing developer training to disseminate good security practices.

The adoption of these practices, combined with gradual migration to Rust, illustrates Microsoft’s stated intention to increase the overall security level of its software infrastructure, while preserving the performance essential to its flagship products.

Towards a new era: implications for developers and the IT community

Microsoft’s project directly impacts software development professionals. This mutation requires developers to master new paradigms, especially those specific to Rust, and to acquire skills related to using AI tools for code transformation and analysis.

Internal teams must thus coexist with AI capable not only of facilitating automatic translation of large codebases but also of learning and evolving according to needs. This human-machine collaboration redefines work modes, leading to a notable increase in productivity while limiting human errors.

Moreover, this change also influences computer training at all levels. Schools and universities must now integrate Rust learning and artificial intelligence techniques applied to development, in order to prepare a new generation of engineers adapted to these transformations.

List of key skills for developers in this new environment

• Advanced mastery of the Rust language
• Deep understanding of legacy C and C++ languages
• Use of AI-driven code analysis tools
• Knowledge of IT security and memory management
• Ability to work in collaboration with automated systems
• Adaptation to agile methods and continuous code review

This evolution therefore calls for a genuine upskilling to remain competitive and actively contribute to the technological shift orchestrated by Microsoft and its peers.

Future perspectives for C and C++ languages in the tech industry

Beyond Microsoft, the evolution of C and C++ languages affects the entire technological ecosystem. Even though a total end to these languages is not announced, their central role diminishes in the face of the emergence of modern technologies and reinforced security constraints.

Critical industries such as aerospace, automotive, or finance, where absolute reliability is imperative, are experimenting with different strategies. Some rely on coexistence with Rust to ensure better security, while others try to adapt and strengthen their C/C++ systems with advanced analysis tools and rigorous processes.

In this context, a gradual migration, driven by better integration of technologies like AI, seems the preferred path. This transition does not mean rejecting the past but rather a thoughtful adaptation to current needs, blending tradition and innovation to achieve an optimal balance between performance, security, and maintainability.

Example of a successful implementation outside Microsoft

The Android project, led by Google, illustrates a similar approach. By integrating Rust alongside Java and Kotlin, this operating system seeks to strengthen stability while modernizing its foundations. This experience shows that major platforms can no longer ignore the benefits of security-enhanced languages and automation tools in their software lifecycle.

This phenomenon also invites small and medium-sized enterprises to rethink their strategies, as software security becomes a universal issue transcending the mere technical layer to affect user trust and commercial sustainability.