build-std: context

[davidtwco]

While Rust's pre-built standard library has proven itself sufficient for the majority of use cases, there are a handful of use cases that are not well supported:

1. Rebuilding the standard library to match the user's profile
2. Rebuilding the standard library with ABI-modifying flags
3. Building the standard library for tier three targets

Proposals to solve these problems come broadly under the umbrella of "build-std" and date back over 10 years ago, though no complete solution has yet reached consensus.

This RFC does not propose any changes directly, only document the background, history and motivations for build-std. It is part of a series of build-std RFCs and later RFCs will reference this one. This RFC is part of the build-std project goal.

1. build-std context (this RFC)
2. build-std="always" (rust-lang/rfcs#3874)
3. Explicit standard library dependencies (rust-lang/rfcs#3875)
4. build-std="compatible" (RFC not opened yet)
5. build-std="match-profile" (RFC not opened yet)

There is also a Zulip channel where you can ask questions about any of the build-std RFCs. This series of RFCs was drafted over many months with the help of stakeholders from many Rust project teams, we thank them for their help!

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