Rust is emerging as a key player in enterprise data pipelines, offering a combination of performance, safety, and modern design that’s outpacing Python and Java.
Singular’s new Extract platform has delivered 17x performance improvements and up to 70% cost reductions compared to traditional Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) tools. This is achieved through Rust’s ability to deliver C-level performance with memory safety guarantees that prevent common bugs.
The numbers tell the story: Singular’s team found equivalent connector code between their legacy Python implementation and their new Rust version consumed 20 times less memory. This efficiency gain translates to significant cost savings, with customers seeing over 50% reductions in operations costs.
Memory safety is a critical advantage for production systems, preventing data breaches and silent corruption. Rust eliminates the need to think about memory management, allowing developers to write efficient code without worrying about vulnerabilities.
However, Rust adoption isn’t without challenges. Building infrastructure from scratch took time due to the lack of pre-built connectors. The team overcame this by leveraging strict compiler checks that catch errors at compile-time, increasing confidence in code quality.
As Rust continues to evolve, its expanding reach goes beyond ELT platforms. Its real-time variant offers super-efficient code for demanding applications. With rapid improvements in async programming and ecosystem maturity, Rust is becoming increasingly viable for real-time use cases.
The adoption of Rust in data engineering signals a broader shift towards efficiency-driven solutions as cloud costs climb and data volumes explode. This presents a competitive advantage for businesses that can harness Rust’s performance gains without sacrificing simplicity or hiring additional engineers.
Source: https://thenewstack.io/rust-eats-pythons-javas-lunch-in-data-engineering