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cloud.google.com·7h ago
Software Engineering
Rust Blog·10d ago·5 min read
Demoting i686 Windows targets to std-only
TL;DR
With Rust 1.100.0, 32-bit Windows targets are being demoted, meaning host tools like compilers will no longer be available for i686-pc-windows-gnu and i686-pc-windows-msvc. Developers will need to cross-compile from supported toolchains to build 32-bit Windows binaries.
✦ Why It Matters
Developers should transition to cross-compiling from supported toolchains to ensure continued support for 32-bit Windows applications.
Key Takeaways
- Transition to cross-compiling from 64-bit Windows toolchains.
- Prepare for the absence of host tools for 32-bit targets.
- Utilize the prebuilt standard library for ongoing development.
- Stay informed about changes in Rust target support.
Full Summary
Rust 1.100.0 introduces significant changes for 32-bit Windows targets, specifically i686-pc-windows-msvc and i686-pc-windows-gnu. Due to the decline of 32-bit hardware and the end of general 32-bit Windows support, these targets are being demoted.
The i686-pc-windows-msvc target will remain a Tier 1 target but without host tools, while the i686-pc-windows-gnu will be demoted to Tier 2. Developers will need to cross-compile from a supported host, such as a 64-bit Windows toolchain, to build 32-bit binaries.
Although the standard library will still be available, the lack of host tools reflects the challenges faced in building these toolchains on modern hardware. This change aims to streamline development processes and address the issues encountered with existing 32-bit toolchains.