From C to Rust on the ESP32: A Developer’s Journey into no_std

Rust is rapidly reshaping how we build reliable software — including in areas once dominated by C. But what does it really look like to bring Rust into an existing embedded codebase? This talk shares the hands-on experience of migrating a working ESP32 firmware from C to no_std Rust, highlighting what Rust changes, what it improves, and where the bumps in the road are.

Starting from a hobby project — a wireless arcade button used in a multiplayer blind test game (https://github.com/neon-beat) — we will explore the practical steps of developing Rust firmware on the ESP32, from toolchain setup and hardware abstraction to system architecture and debugging strategies. Along the way, we’ll discuss the key differences from traditional Rust development, the challenges faced in a no_std environment, and how the embedded Rust ecosystem and community helped the project move forward.

Whether you’re an embedded developer curious about Rust, someone evaluating the risks and benefits of adopting it in production, or simply interested in real-world migration stories, this talk aims to provide actionable insights, lessons learned, and a realistic view of what transitioning from C to Rust on micro controllers really looks like.