For "OCaml vs. Rust":

Dwarkesh Patel and Brett Harrison discussed the differences between OCaml and Rust in a podcast episode. Here are some of the key points they covered:

• Performance: Rust allows for faster base-level programming compared to OCaml due to the way OCaml handles memory with its automatic garbage collection. In contexts like high-speed finance, where memory allocation and garbage collection can be critical performance bottlenecks, Rust offers an advantage because it lets the programmer more directly manage memory usage.

• Safety and Maintenance: Both languages provide strong compile-time safety through static typing, but the ease of writing sophisticated and safe code is currently better in Rust, especially due to its recent enhancements and increased adoption in sectors like cryptocurrency and smart contract development.

• Adoption for Complex Systems: For projects involving low-latency, distributed infrastructure where reliability is crucial, such as financial systems handling billions of dollars, Rust is preferred. However, for less complex or personal projects, lighter scripting languages like Python might be more suitable due to Rust's steep learning curve.

Brett Harrison also mentioned that despite the technical superiority of Rust in certain aspects, a complete shift from OCaml to Rust for established systems (like those at Jane Street) may not be feasible or cost-effective due to the extensive existing infrastructure built in OCaml. However, if it were possible to replace OCaml with Rust at no cost, it would be favorable to do so given Rust's benefits in performance and safety 1 2.