The developers of the Thunderbird email client announced the start of integration of components written in the Rust language into the code base. The next major release of Thunderbird, expected to be released in July of this year, will include code implementing the Microsoft Exchange Web Services (EWS) mail protocol, implemented in Rust. Support for accessing the Microsoft Exchange calendar and address book will be added at a later date. The built-in implementation will eliminate the need to install third-party add-ons that have previously provided support for Microsoft Exchange.
It is noted that using the Rust language to implement the intended functionality will reduce the likelihood of errors when working with memory, provide increased performance compared to a JavaScript add-on, and will allow it to fit into the existing ecosystem developing email-related modules in the Rust language. The integration of development tools in a new language is simplified by the fact that Rust is already used in Firefox and in Thunderbird it will be possible to use the existing infrastructure for testing and continuous integration, as well as XPCOM (Cross-Platform Component Object Model) binding for interaction of components in the Rust language with code in C++ and JavaScript.
Among the disadvantages of integrating Rust support, there is an increase in the code base, the need to create missing bindings, and the adaptation of some asynchronous handlers that are not compatible with the model of asynchronous operations in Rust to work with Rust code.
Other features planned for inclusion in the July ESR release of Thunderbird include:
- Support for synchronizing settings between systems via linking to a Mozilla Account.
- Transition to a new global message storage database, which allows for alternative ways of displaying correspondence.
- Continuation of the development of the mode of vertical layout of the list of messages (Card View), stylized for mobile interfaces in which elements are shown in the form of βflatβ cards.
- Full dark mode support for messages and images.
- New features of the panel with a list of mail folders (Folder Pane).
- Creation of Account Hub, a single point for setting up all accounts.
- Integration of the built-in machine translation engine Firefox Translate.
Source: opennet.ru