Can Rust Transform Boot Firmware? Evaluating a Migration from TF-A to RF-A

Rusted Firmware-A (RF-A), a Rust-based boot firmware project, is being developed as an alternative to C-based Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A). This presentation describes the application of RF-A to a SoC platform and compares it with an existing TF-A-based implementation.
While Rust has gained significant attention for its memory safety and security benefits, there is still limited practical experience and published data on using Rust in boot firmware.
Topics covered in this presentation include:
- The work required to migrate from TF-A to RF-A
- The impact on code size and memory footprint
- How to deal with unavoidable unsafe code in boot firmware development
- Changes in debugging and maintainability
- Compatibility with existing C-based software assets
- The practical benefits and challenges of adopting Rust
This presentation provides practical insights into when Rust is worth adopting and how it can realistically coexist with existing C-based firmware stacks.