Ubuntu 26.10 completes transition to Rust-based coreutils

# Ubuntu 26.10 completes transition to Rust-based coreutils - OMG! Ubuntu Source: [https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/09/ubuntu-2610-rust-coreutils-complete](https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/09/ubuntu-2610-rust-coreutils-complete) **Ubuntu 26\.10 completes the distro’s move to Rust\-based core utilities, with the commands previously held back due to security issues now migrated to memory\-safe versions\.** `cp`,`mv`and`rm`were held back on their GNU versions in Ubuntu 26\.04 LTS due to a crop of TOCTOU \(time\-of\-check to time\-of\-use\) issues that needed to be fixed in the`uutils`versions\. With those issues resolved upstream, Ubuntu 26\.10 finishes the job\. The*‘Stonking Stingray’*ships a full set of Rust core utilities, which encompasses common command\-line tools like`ls`,`cat`,`chmod`and`du`\. > Canonical donates €40k a year to help fund work on Rust software Canonical’s engineers began ‘oxidising’ the distro – replacing foundational software with Rust alternatives – in 2025\. It[sees security benefits](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/carefully-but-purposefully-oxidising-ubuntu/56995?u=d0od)in doing so, since Rust catches memory bugs at compile time, whereas C compilers don’t\. Ubuntu 25\.10 was the first release to ship with Rust\-based utilities and made[Rust\-based sudo the default](https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/05/ubuntu-25-10-rust-sudo-rs-change)\. Migrating[hasn’t been without hiccups](https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/10/ubuntu-25-10-rust-coreutils-date-bug), but Canonical has been studious\. It[commissioned a security audit](https://github.com/Zellic/publications/blob/master/uutils%20coreutils%20-%20Zellic%20Audit%20Report.pdf)of`uutils`ahead of 26\.04, which found the issues that kept the three commands back on their GNU versions\. It’s also a gold sponsor of the[*Trifecta Tech Foundation*](https://trifectatech.org/), giving €40,000 a year to fund its work on Rust software\. The non\-profit foundation is undertaking a Rust\-based[rewrite of the Network Time Protocol \(NTP\)](https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/07/ubuntu-ntpd-rs-rust-time-sync), and Ubuntu plans to use it as the default time sync client by 27\.10\. Here, the completion of the coreutils migration offers no functional difference to end users\. The Rust\-based`uutils`aims for drop\-in compatibility with GNU versions, and treats any deviances as a bug\. That’s by designed; the point is one of improved security\. Ubuntu 26\.10 ‘Stonking Stingray’ beta arrives later this month, before the stable release on 15 October, 2026\.