Rust's implementation of doc tests and its integration of doc tests into standard workflows is praiseworthy. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that doc tests were pioneered elsewhere and have existed in many other languages for a long time.
Like many things in Rust, the innovation is not so much at the computer science conceptual level, but in designing institutions, communities, and processes that allow for integrating the best ideas in a controlled manner.
> At the same time, we need to acknowledge that doc tests were pioneered elsewhere and have existed in many other languages for a long time.
I agree. I understand that a lot of people talk about Rust as if everything it does is novel, when it is really a culmination and execution of a lot of good ideas (Which tbf is what most good things are anyway).
And the fact that many people's introduction to Rust come from books written by the developers means that even beginners will be exposed to these features early on
Like many things in Rust, the innovation is not so much at the computer science conceptual level, but in designing institutions, communities, and processes that allow for integrating the best ideas in a controlled manner.