>Wasn't this release supposed to finally offer a Windows package which works out-of-the-box?
Nope.
>I just tried it. Only got an error message about a missing GCC component. Seriously, a ~90MB download and that still does not include all the GCC dependencies?
Seriously, an early adopter that can't handle GCC dependencies?
That's the kind of attitude that will ensure that Rust does not see truly widespread adoption. Windows is, like it or not, still a very significant platform today. Poor Windows support will hurt the adoption of Rust. It shouldn't be up to some vague "community" to seamlessly support Windows. That's something that the core Rust developers should work to offer.
>Windows is, like it or not, still a very significant platform today.
I agree.
>Poor Windows support will hurt the adoption of Rust.
I agree again.
Where I disagree is that there's any serious hurry for "it just works" Windows support to exist now, when the language is in flux, the core team has tons of other priorities (like, finalizing the design and creating stuff), and we're several releases away from 1.0.
Where I disagree is that people that try to early adopt a compiler and toolchain at pre-beta stage, have a right to whine about it and demand stuff, or even get to blame developers ("who is responsible for the Windows port?").
Where I disagree with is with entitlement.
>* It shouldn't be up to some vague "community" to seamlessly support Windows. That's something that the core Rust developers should work to offer.*
That's what I disagree with.
The core team has schedules, finite time and priorities. And could even be way over their head with some stuff, like finalising some language semantics.
That some other developers are saddled with a non-UNIX/POSIX OS, doesn't mean the core team must automatically bend over and prioritize them over other stuff. Even if it "hurt Rust adoption".
You know what will hurt Rust adoption more? Spending resources to port a half-finished compiler to various systems, instead of getting it done first.
[NOTE: In no way do I speak FOR the core team or are affiliated with it (other than playing with Rust since 0.3 days as a user). I just wanted to respond to this particular attitude].
The core team is working on the language for now, I imagine once the few remaining core features start to stabilise they will be able to shift their focus to things like libraries, tooling and platform support.
Also, Windows support is definitely a priority: every single proposed patch is tested on Windows (as well as Linux, OSX and one of the BSDs, and soon, Android), and any failures cause a rejection.
Nope.
>I just tried it. Only got an error message about a missing GCC component. Seriously, a ~90MB download and that still does not include all the GCC dependencies?
Seriously, an early adopter that can't handle GCC dependencies?
>Who is in charge of the Windows port?
YOU are, it's open to the community.