Hey there, fellow blockchain enthusiasts! If you're knee-deep in the world of Solana and meme tokens, you might want to pay attention to a recent thread from Trent, the chief curmudgeon at Anza (formerly part of Solana Labs). He's dropping some cryptic yet crucial advice that could shape how we build on Solana moving forward.

It all started with a classic Drake meme posted by Trent, captioned "retvrn to chewing glass." For the uninitiated, "chewing glass" is a tongue-in-cheek way to describe the gritty, resource-constrained world of embedded systems programming – think bare-bones coding without all the fancy luxuries.

The meme shows Drake rejecting "no HashMap<K, V>" and approving "no Vec," which seems to poke fun at the trade-offs in no_std Rust environments. In Rust, HashMap and Vec are common data structures, but in no_std mode (which we'll explain in a sec), you have to be careful with what you use because the standard library isn't available.

Trent then quoted his own post with: "if you're a solana program dev, learn what no_std rust is today. you will thank me tomorrow." And to add more flavor, he followed up by quoting that with: "after a brief foray masquerading as a desktop operating system, the solana virtual machine is returning to its roots and admitting to being an embedded system."

Whoa, that's a big hint! For those new to this, the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) is the engine that runs smart contracts (or "programs" in Solana lingo) on the blockchain. It's based on eBPF technology, which originated from embedded and kernel environments. Apparently, SVM has been acting a bit too "desktop-like" lately – maybe allowing more resource-heavy features – but now it's tightening up to embrace its embedded origins.

What is no_std Rust, Anyway?

Let's break it down simply. Rust is a powerful programming language known for its safety and performance, and it's the go-to for writing Solana programs. Normally, Rust comes with a standard library (std) that provides handy tools like file I/O, networking, and collections like Vec and HashMap.

But in no_std mode, you ditch the std library entirely. Why? Because embedded systems – like microcontrollers or, in this case, blockchain VMs – have limited resources. No_std forces you to write lean, efficient code, often relying on the alloc crate for dynamic memory or custom implementations. Solana programs already use no_std by default via the solana-program crate, but Trent's advice suggests devs need a deeper understanding, perhaps due to upcoming stricter enforcements or alignments with upstream eBPF.

Why This Matters for Meme Token Creators

Meme tokens on Solana are all the rage – think quick launches, viral pumps, and community-driven fun. Most use the standard SPL Token program, but if you're building custom logic, like advanced tokenomics, launchpads, or integrated DEX features, you're writing Solana programs.

With SVM "returning to its roots," we might see changes that demand more embedded-style coding. This could mean:

• Stricter Resource Limits: Programs might need to be even more optimized, avoiding heavy data structures to prevent high compute unit usage (Solana's gas equivalent).

• Better Compatibility with Upstream eBPF: As hinted in replies, like Dean Little's comment about forking back to upstream eBPF, this could standardize Solana with broader embedded tech, making it more robust but requiring no_std mastery.

• Future-Proofing Your Memes: If you're a dev in the meme space, learning no_std now means smoother sailing when updates roll out. Tools like Pinocchians (mentioned in replies) are already prepping courses for this.

One reply from Jeff at @japarjam highlights how his team is incorporating this into their work, signaling community prep for Q4 changes.

How to Get Started with no_std Rust

Ready to dive in? Here's a quick guide:

• Read the Docs: Check out the Rust no_std guide for basics.

• Practice with Examples: Start with simple crates that run in no_std, like building a basic allocator or using core library features.

• Solana-Specific Resources: Explore the Solana Program Library and experiment with the solana-program crate in a no_std setup.

• Community Tools: Look into eBPF resources since SVM is eBPF-based. And keep an eye on Anza's updates – they're the ones steering this ship.

This shift could make Solana even faster and more efficient, perfect for the high-throughput needs of meme token trading. But it means devs can't slack on the fundamentals.

What do you think? Is this a welcome return to roots or a headache for builders? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to Meme Insider for more on how blockchain tweaks affect your favorite memes.

For the full thread, check it out here.