Microsoft sets ambitious 2030 goal to eliminate C and C++ using AI-powered code translation

Microsoft Targets Complete Transition Away from C and C++

Microsoft has unveiled an ambitious research initiative to replace C and C++ codebase across its entire product portfolio by 2030, according to Galen Hunt, a distinguished engineer with nearly three decades at the company1

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. Hunt stated in a LinkedIn post that his goal is to "eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030," outlining a strategy that combines AI and algorithms to rewrite code at unprecedented scale2

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. The announcement comes as governments increasingly call for adoption of memory-safe languages to improve software security, with C and C++ vulnerabilities offering attackers opportunities to exploit out-of-bounds reads, writes, and use-after-free errors.

AI Code Rewrite Infrastructure Already Operational

The company has already built substantial code processing infrastructure to support this transition, Hunt revealed. Microsoft's algorithmic infrastructure creates scalable graphs over source code, while its AI processing infrastructure deploys AI agents guided by algorithms to make code modifications at massive scale1

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. The team's "North Star" benchmark sets an aggressive target: enabling one engineer to translate 1 million lines of code in just one month2

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. According to Hunt, these systems are already operating on real workloads, particularly for code understanding tasks. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previously indicated that up to 30% of the company's code is now written by AI, including portions of Windows2

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Rust Emerges as Primary Target for Memory-Safe Migration

The effort focuses on translating Microsoft's largest C and C++ systems to the memory-safe Rust language, which uses automated memory management to prevent critical security vulnerabilities1

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. The challenge is substantial: C remains deeply embedded in the Windows kernel and low-level system components including Win32 APIs, while C++ powers many native Windows applications2

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. Microsoft has already demonstrated commitment to Rust, with its Azure CTO calling in 2022 for Rust to become the default language for new projects. The company has developed tools for automatically converting C code to Rust and created frameworks for writing Windows drivers using the language1

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Future of Scalable Software Engineering Drives Effort

Hunt is actively recruiting a Principal Software Engineer paying between $139,900 and $274,800 annually to work within Microsoft's Future of Scalable Software Engineering group1

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. This team's mission centers on building capabilities to eliminate technical debt at scale across Microsoft and the broader industry. The role requires three days per week at Microsoft's Redmond office and will focus on evolving the infrastructure enabling large-scale codebase translation1

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. Hunt emphasized the team pioneers new tools with internal customers before deploying them across Microsoft's vast product array, which includes over 500 active online portals according to MSportals.io1

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Research Project, Not Immediate Windows Overhaul

After widespread media attention, Hunt issued a clarification emphasizing this remains a research project rather than an announced product strategy. "Windows is NOT being rewritten in Rust with AI," he stated, stressing the work aims to build tools that could enable future language migration rather than signal immediate changes to Windows or commitment to Rust as the final destination2

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. The clarification comes amid growing concerns about heavy reliance on large language models for software development. Companies including Salesforce have flagged technical limitations with AI-generated code, questioning whether these systems can consistently meet precision standards required for complex, long-term software systems2

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. The effort to reduce reliance on C and C++ will inevitably surface numerous edge cases that automation cannot address, making this a long-term technical challenge requiring sustained investment in both AI capabilities and human expertise.