Summary

Original proposal: https://hackmd.io/@rust-cargo-team/SJT-p_rL2
Implementation: #12634
Documentation: https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/cargo/reference/unstable.html#gc
Issues: Z-gc Nightly: garbage collection

The -Zgc flag enable garbage collection for deleting old, unused files in cargo's cache.

Status

• Tracking of last-use data started in Rust 1.78 via Stabilize global cache data tracking. #13492.
• Automatic cleaning of unused data started in Rust 1.88 via Stabilize automatic garbage collection. #14287.
• Manual cleaning is tracked in gc: Determine CLI design for manual cleaning #13060.
• What kind of config options to expose is tracked in gc: Determine which config options should be exposed and their defaults #13061.
• Build artifact tracking and cleaning is tracked in Garbage collect whole target/ #13136.

Unresolved Issues

• Finalize the CLI
  • Enumerate prior art from other tools with cache management (poetry, docker, git, nix, zig, dune, etc)
    • Apparently buck2 and Turborepo grow unbounded

Future Extensions

No response

About tracking issues

Tracking issues are used to record the overall progress of implementation.
They are also used as hubs connecting to other relevant issues, e.g., bugs or open design questions.
A tracking issue is however not meant for large scale discussion, questions, or bug reports about a feature.
Instead, open a dedicated issue for the specific matter and add the relevant feature gate label.