Embedded C++ vs. Rust for Robotics and Autonomy: What to Use in 2025?

 

As robotics and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems become more intelligent and safety-critical, the programming languages used to build them matter more than ever.

In the embedded world, two frontrunners dominate the conversation in 2025: Embedded C++, the industry veteran, and Rust, the rising force focused on safety and modern tooling.

If you’re building the next-gen AV stack or deploying robotics at scale, here’s a fresh look at how these languages compare in the field today.

 

1. Performance & Real-Time Control

Embedded C++

• Highly optimized for real-time execution, with decades of vendor and industry support
• Offers fine-grained control over hardware with minimal runtime overhead
• Enables precise performance tuning through mature toolchains and debuggers (GCC, Clang, IAR, SEGGER, etc.)

Rust

• Zero-cost abstractions allow for performance speed on par with C++
• Ownership-based memory model prevents common bugs like crashes and memory leaks without needing a garbage collector, ideal for real-time systems
• Real-time capable with evolving frameworks like RTIC, Embassy, and async support

Winner: C++ remains the go-to for deeply constrained, real-time embedded systems. Rust is catching up quickly, especially for systems with more memory and complexity.

 

2. Safety and Reliability

Embedded C++

• Powerful but risky: prone to undefined behaviour, memory corruption, and manual memory management
• Relies heavily on coding standards like MISRA C++ and AUTOSAR

Rust

• Safety built into the language prevents null pointer dereferencing, buffer overflows, and data races at compile time
• Enforces strict ownership and lifetime rules
• Growing traction for safety-critical certification (ISO 26262, DO-178C)

Winner: Rust is engineered for safety. In domains where reliability is paramount, Rust provides stronger guarantees with less overhead.

 

3. Ecosystem and Tooling

Embedded C++

• Long-standing dominance in robotics (e.g., ROS, PX4)
• Comprehensive support from silicon vendors (ST, NXP, TI)
• Industrial-grade toolchains and debuggers (SEGGER, Keil, IAR)

Rust

• Rapidly maturing ecosystem (embedded-hal, probe-rs, defmt)
• ROS 2 support in development (ros2-rust)
• More community-driven than vendor-supported

Winner: C++, for now, has the advantage in production-ready environments and vendor tooling. Rust is ideal for R&D projects and is gaining traction.

 

4. Developer Experience

Embedded C++

• Steep learning curve with modern C++ idioms and templates
• Debugging memory issues can be time-consuming
• Familiarity across most embedded engineers

Rust

• Clear, modern syntax with helpful compiler feedback
• Modern tooling, such as Cargo, simplifies project setup, building, testing, and dependency management
• Ownership system enforces discipline early, but comes with a learning curve

Winner: Rust often leads to fewer bugs and easier long-term maintenance, especially for teams willing to climb the initial learning curve.

 

5. Adoption in the Field

C++ in Action:

• Core to systems at Tesla, Waymo, NVIDIA, and most ROS 2-based robotics
• Trusted and tested for AV perception, planning, and control

Rust in Action:

• Used by Cruise for safety-critical components
• Adopted by companies like Embark Studios, Ferrous Systems, and OxidOS
• Gaining popularity in drone firmware, hobby robotics, and AV middleware experimentation

 

The Future: It’s Not Either/Or

Hybrid architectures are already emerging:

• C++ for perception-heavy workloads or deeply optimized control loops
• Rust for mission-critical safety controllers, diagnostics, and tooling layers

In 2025, the smarter question isn’t “C++ or Rust?” but “Where does each fit best in your autonomy stack?”

 

Hiring for Robotics and Autonomy Teams?

If you’re scaling embedded systems teams for robotics or AV, the C++ vs. Rust debate isn’t just technical – it’s strategic; the language you bet on today shapes your hiring pipeline, team velocity, and long-term maintainability.

I’m actively connected with top-tier engineers across both stacks. As a recruiter deeply embedded in this space, I’m seeing a rising demand for Rust-fluent embedded engineers, while senior Embedded C++ talent remains competitive and specialized.

 

If you’d like to discuss how we can build a team that matches your tech direction, please reach out to: luiza@akkar.com.