Version-typed cfgs

[tmandry]

This RFC proposes a general mechanism for version-based conditional compilation called "typed cfgs".

Summary

This RFC proposes "typed cfgs", a new form of conditional compilation predicate that understands types. Initially, this RFC proposes to add support for version-typed cfgs, allowing for ergonomic version comparisons against the language version supported by the compiler. This would be exposed through two new built-in cfg names:

• rust_version, which can be compared against a language version literal, e.g., #[cfg(rust_version >= "1.85")].
• rust_edition, which can be compared against an edition literal, e.g., #[cfg(rust_edition >= "2024")].

This design solves a long-standing problem of conditionally compiling code for different Rust versions without requiring build scripts or forcing libraries to increase their Minimum Supported Rust Version (MSRV). It also replaces the cfg(version(..)) part of RFC 2523.

History

There have been several previous attempts to solve the problem of conditional compilation by Rust version.

• RFC RFC: #[cfg(accessible(..) / version(..))] #2523 introduced #[cfg(version(..))]. However, it left the syntax as an open question. Attempts to stabilize it were blocked because the new syntax would be a hard error on older compilers, defeating the goal of supporting older MSRVs.
• RFC RFC: #[cfg(version_since(rust, "1.95"))] for Rust-version conditional compilation #3857 proposed #[cfg(version_since(rust, ...))], which solved the MSRV problem and generalized the mechanism beyond Rust versions while defining the interaction with command line flags like --check-cfg.

This RFC takes the lessons from both previous attempts. It proposes a path to the ergonomic rust_version >= "..." syntax that was preferred during language team discussions, while providing a clear MSRV-compatibility story from day one.

The RFC also incorporates use cases from the cfg_target_version RFC (#3750), which proposed a way to compare against the version of the target platform's SDK (e.g., #[cfg(target_version(macos >= "10.15"))]). Version-typed cfgs provide a path to supporting these comparions.

Finally, it takes cues from previous discussions around mutually exclusive features and a cfg_value!() macro, and lays out a path toward more single-valued config types that could support these features.

Rendered

[weiznich]

Overall I linke the idea, but I have some questions and remarks

(Obvious disclaimer: I'm not associated with any team, that's just my personal opinion, so feel free to ignore that)

[tgross35]

(Obvious disclaimer: I'm not associated with any team, that's just my personal opinion, so feel free to ignore that)

RFCs are the place for community feedback. Insight from future feature users that aren't team members is just as (if not more) valuable, and always welcome in all discussion areas ❤️

[madsmtm]

Thanks for picking this up!