Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is set to make a bold move with its upcoming Ubuntu 25.10 release, expected later this year. The open-source operating system will begin phasing out the long-standing GNU coreutils—essential tools like ls, chmod, and kill—in favor of a modern alternative written in the Rust programming language. This shift aims to boost security and performance, marking a significant evolution for one of the world’s most popular Linux distributions.
For decades, GNU coreutils have been a cornerstone of Unix-like systems, including Ubuntu, providing the basic commands that users and developers rely on daily. Written in C, these tools are robust but increasingly seen as vulnerable to security flaws like buffer overflows. Rust, known for its memory safety and speed, offers a promising upgrade. Canonical’s replacement, based on the “uutils” project, promises not only stronger security but also faster execution—early tests show commands like sort running up to six times quicker than their GNU counterparts.
To ease the transition, Canonical is introducing “Oxidizer,” a tool that lets users toggle between the old GNU tools and the new Rust-based ones. This gradual approach reflects a commitment to stability, especially as Ubuntu remains a go-to choice for both desktop users and enterprise servers. The change will roll out in Ubuntu 25.10, with plans to refine it further in the 26.04 Long Term Support (LTS) release in 2026.
The decision has sparked debate. Supporters hail it as a forward-thinking step, aligning with broader trends—like the Linux kernel’s own adoption of Rust since version 6.1. Critics, however, worry about compatibility and the philosophical shift away from GNU’s open-source roots. The new tools adopt the permissive MIT license, a departure from GNU’s stricter GPLv3, raising questions about Ubuntu’s identity as a “GNU/Linux” system.
This isn’t just a technical tweak—it’s a signal of where Linux might be headed. As Canonical redefines Ubuntu for the next 20 years, the move could inspire other distributions to follow suit, reshaping the open-source landscape one command at a time. For now, all eyes are on Ubuntu 25.10 to see if Rust can deliver on its promise.