remove support for the #[start] attribute

compiler/rustc_ast/src/entry.rs

@@ -19,12 +19,6 @@ pub enum EntryPointType {
     /// fn main() {}
     /// ```
     RustcMainAttr,
-    /// This is a function with the `#[start]` attribute.
-    /// ```ignore (clashes with test entrypoint)
-    /// #[start]
-    /// fn main() {}
-    /// ```
-    Start,
     /// This function is **not** an entrypoint but simply named `main` (not at the root).
     /// This is only used for diagnostics.
     /// ```
@@ -41,9 +35,7 @@ pub fn entry_point_type(
     at_root: bool,
     name: Option<Symbol>,
 ) -> EntryPointType {
-    if attr::contains_name(attrs, sym::start) {
-        EntryPointType::Start
-    } else if attr::contains_name(attrs, sym::rustc_main) {
+    if attr::contains_name(attrs, sym::rustc_main) {
         EntryPointType::RustcMainAttr
     } else if let Some(name) = name
         && name == sym::main

compiler/rustc_ast_passes/src/feature_gate.rs

@@ -231,18 +231,6 @@ impl<'a> Visitor<'a> for PostExpansionVisitor<'a> {
                 }
             }
 
-            ast::ItemKind::Fn(..) => {
-                if attr::contains_name(&i.attrs, sym::start) {
-                    gate!(
-                        &self,
-                        start,
-                        i.span,
-                        "`#[start]` functions are experimental and their signature may change \
-                         over time"
-                    );
-                }
-            }
-
             ast::ItemKind::Struct(..) => {
                 for attr in attr::filter_by_name(&i.attrs, sym::repr) {
                     for item in attr.meta_item_list().unwrap_or_else(ThinVec::new) {

compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs

@@ -205,11 +205,11 @@ impl<'a> MutVisitor for EntryPointCleaner<'a> {
         ast::mut_visit::walk_item(self, item);
         self.depth -= 1;
 
-        // Remove any #[rustc_main] or #[start] from the AST so it doesn't
+        // Remove any #[rustc_main] from the AST so it doesn't
         // clash with the one we're going to add, but mark it as
         // #[allow(dead_code)] to avoid printing warnings.
         match entry_point_type(&item, self.depth == 0) {
-            EntryPointType::MainNamed | EntryPointType::RustcMainAttr | EntryPointType::Start => {
+            EntryPointType::MainNamed | EntryPointType::RustcMainAttr => {
                 let allow_dead_code = attr::mk_attr_nested_word(
                     &self.sess.psess.attr_id_generator,
                     ast::AttrStyle::Outer,
@@ -218,8 +218,7 @@ impl<'a> MutVisitor for EntryPointCleaner<'a> {
                     sym::dead_code,
                     self.def_site,
                 );
-                item.attrs
-                    .retain(|attr| !attr.has_name(sym::rustc_main) && !attr.has_name(sym::start));
+                item.attrs.retain(|attr| !attr.has_name(sym::rustc_main));
                 item.attrs.push(allow_dead_code);
             }
             EntryPointType::None | EntryPointType::OtherMain => {}

compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/base.rs

@@ -490,8 +490,8 @@ pub fn maybe_create_entry_wrapper<'a, 'tcx, Bx: BuilderMethods<'a, 'tcx>>(
         let ptr_ty = cx.type_ptr();
         let (arg_argc, arg_argv) = get_argc_argv(&mut bx);
 
-        let (start_fn, start_ty, args, instance) = if let EntryFnType::Main { sigpipe } = entry_type
-        {
+        let EntryFnType::Main { sigpipe } = entry_type;
+        let (start_fn, start_ty, args, instance) = {
             let start_def_id = cx.tcx().require_lang_item(LangItem::Start, None);
             let start_instance = ty::Instance::expect_resolve(
                 cx.tcx(),
@@ -512,10 +512,6 @@ pub fn maybe_create_entry_wrapper<'a, 'tcx, Bx: BuilderMethods<'a, 'tcx>>(
                 vec![rust_main, arg_argc, arg_argv, arg_sigpipe],
                 Some(start_instance),
             )
-        } else {
-            debug!("using user-defined start fn");
-            let start_ty = cx.type_func(&[isize_ty, ptr_ty], isize_ty);
-            (rust_main, start_ty, vec![arg_argc, arg_argv], None)
         };
 
         let result = bx.call(start_ty, None, None, start_fn, &args, None, instance);
@@ -530,7 +526,8 @@ pub fn maybe_create_entry_wrapper<'a, 'tcx, Bx: BuilderMethods<'a, 'tcx>>(
     }
 }
 
-/// Obtain the `argc` and `argv` values to pass to the rust start function.
+/// Obtain the `argc` and `argv` values to pass to the rust start function
+/// (i.e., the "start" lang item).
 fn get_argc_argv<'a, 'tcx, Bx: BuilderMethods<'a, 'tcx>>(bx: &mut Bx) -> (Bx::Value, Bx::Value) {
     if bx.cx().sess().target.os.contains("uefi") {
         // Params for UEFI

compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0138.md

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#### Note: this error code is no longer emitted by the compiler.
+
 More than one function was declared with the `#[start]` attribute.
 
 Erroneous code example:

compiler/rustc_feature/src/builtin_attrs.rs

@@ -447,7 +447,6 @@ pub const BUILTIN_ATTRIBUTES: &[BuiltinAttribute] = &[
     ),
 
     // Entry point:
-    ungated!(start, Normal, template!(Word), WarnFollowing, EncodeCrossCrate::No),
     ungated!(no_start, CrateLevel, template!(Word), WarnFollowing, EncodeCrossCrate::No),
     ungated!(no_main, CrateLevel, template!(Word), WarnFollowing, EncodeCrossCrate::No),
 

compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/messages.ftl

@@ -477,21 +477,6 @@ hir_analysis_simd_ffi_highly_experimental = use of SIMD type{$snip} in FFI is hi
 hir_analysis_specialization_trait = implementing `rustc_specialization_trait` traits is unstable
     .help = add `#![feature(min_specialization)]` to the crate attributes to enable
 
-hir_analysis_start_function_parameters = `#[start]` function is not allowed to have type parameters
-    .label = `#[start]` function cannot have type parameters
-
-hir_analysis_start_function_where = `#[start]` function is not allowed to have a `where` clause
-    .label = `#[start]` function cannot have a `where` clause
-
-hir_analysis_start_not_async = `#[start]` function is not allowed to be `async`
-    .label = `#[start]` is not allowed to be `async`
-
-hir_analysis_start_not_target_feature = `#[start]` function is not allowed to have `#[target_feature]`
-    .label = `#[start]` function is not allowed to have `#[target_feature]`
-
-hir_analysis_start_not_track_caller = `#[start]` function is not allowed to be `#[track_caller]`
-    .label = `#[start]` function is not allowed to be `#[track_caller]`
-
 hir_analysis_static_specialize = cannot specialize on `'static` lifetime
 
 hir_analysis_tait_forward_compat = item constrains opaque type that is not in its signature

compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/entry.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use rustc_hir as hir;
 use rustc_hir::Node;
 use rustc_infer::infer::TyCtxtInferExt;
 use rustc_middle::span_bug;
-use rustc_middle::ty::{self, Ty, TyCtxt, TypingMode};
+use rustc_middle::ty::{self, TyCtxt, TypingMode};
 use rustc_session::config::EntryFnType;
 use rustc_span::Span;
 use rustc_span::def_id::{CRATE_DEF_ID, DefId, LocalDefId};
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ use crate::errors;
 pub(crate) fn check_for_entry_fn(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) {
     match tcx.entry_fn(()) {
         Some((def_id, EntryFnType::Main { .. })) => check_main_fn_ty(tcx, def_id),
-        Some((def_id, EntryFnType::Start)) => check_start_fn_ty(tcx, def_id),
         _ => {}
     }
 }
@@ -193,83 +192,3 @@ fn check_main_fn_ty(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, main_def_id: DefId) {
         });
     }
 }
-
-fn check_start_fn_ty(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, start_def_id: DefId) {
-    let start_def_id = start_def_id.expect_local();
-    let start_id = tcx.local_def_id_to_hir_id(start_def_id);
-    let start_span = tcx.def_span(start_def_id);
-    let start_t = tcx.type_of(start_def_id).instantiate_identity();
-    match start_t.kind() {
-        ty::FnDef(..) => {
-            if let Node::Item(it) = tcx.hir_node(start_id) {
-                if let hir::ItemKind::Fn(sig, generics, _) = &it.kind {
-                    let mut error = false;
-                    if !generics.params.is_empty() {
-                        tcx.dcx().emit_err(errors::StartFunctionParameters { span: generics.span });
-                        error = true;
-                    }
-                    if generics.has_where_clause_predicates {
-                        tcx.dcx().emit_err(errors::StartFunctionWhere {
-                            span: generics.where_clause_span,
-                        });
-                        error = true;
-                    }
-                    if sig.header.asyncness.is_async() {
-                        let span = tcx.def_span(it.owner_id);
-                        tcx.dcx().emit_err(errors::StartAsync { span });
-                        error = true;
-                    }
-
-                    let attrs = tcx.hir().attrs(start_id);
-                    for attr in attrs {
-                        if attr.has_name(sym::track_caller) {
-                            tcx.dcx().emit_err(errors::StartTrackCaller {
-                                span: attr.span,
-                                start: start_span,
-                            });
-                            error = true;
-                        }
-                        if attr.has_name(sym::target_feature)
-                            // Calling functions with `#[target_feature]` is
-                            // not unsafe on WASM, see #84988
-                            && !tcx.sess.target.is_like_wasm
-                            && !tcx.sess.opts.actually_rustdoc
-                        {
-                            tcx.dcx().emit_err(errors::StartTargetFeature {
-                                span: attr.span,
-                                start: start_span,
-                            });
-                            error = true;
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    if error {
-                        return;
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            let expected_sig = ty::Binder::dummy(tcx.mk_fn_sig(
-                [tcx.types.isize, Ty::new_imm_ptr(tcx, Ty::new_imm_ptr(tcx, tcx.types.u8))],
-                tcx.types.isize,
-                false,
-                hir::Safety::Safe,
-                ExternAbi::Rust,
-            ));
-
-            let _ = check_function_signature(
-                tcx,
-                ObligationCause::new(
-                    start_span,
-                    start_def_id,
-                    ObligationCauseCode::StartFunctionType,
-                ),
-                start_def_id.into(),
-                expected_sig,
-            );
-        }
-        _ => {
-            span_bug!(start_span, "start has a non-function type: found `{}`", start_t);
-        }
-    }
-}

compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/errors.rs

@@ -620,48 +620,6 @@ pub(crate) struct TargetFeatureOnMain {
     pub main: Span,
 }
 
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(hir_analysis_start_not_track_caller)]
-pub(crate) struct StartTrackCaller {
-    #[primary_span]
-    pub span: Span,
-    #[label]
-    pub start: Span,
-}
-
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(hir_analysis_start_not_target_feature)]
-pub(crate) struct StartTargetFeature {
-    #[primary_span]
-    pub span: Span,
-    #[label]
-    pub start: Span,
-}
-
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(hir_analysis_start_not_async, code = E0752)]
-pub(crate) struct StartAsync {
-    #[primary_span]
-    #[label]
-    pub span: Span,
-}
-
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(hir_analysis_start_function_where, code = E0647)]
-pub(crate) struct StartFunctionWhere {
-    #[primary_span]
-    #[label]
-    pub span: Span,
-}
-
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(hir_analysis_start_function_parameters, code = E0132)]
-pub(crate) struct StartFunctionParameters {
-    #[primary_span]
-    #[label]
-    pub span: Span,
-}
-
 #[derive(Diagnostic)]
 #[diag(hir_analysis_main_function_return_type_generic, code = E0131)]
 pub(crate) struct MainFunctionReturnTypeGeneric {

compiler/rustc_passes/messages.ftl

@@ -496,11 +496,6 @@ passes_multiple_rustc_main =
     .first = first `#[rustc_main]` function
     .additional = additional `#[rustc_main]` function
 
-passes_multiple_start_functions =
-    multiple `start` functions
-    .label = multiple `start` functions
-    .previous = previous `#[start]` function here
-
 passes_must_not_suspend =
     `must_not_suspend` attribute should be applied to a struct, enum, union, or trait
     .label = is not a struct, enum, union, or trait

compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs

@@ -277,7 +277,6 @@ impl<'tcx> CheckAttrVisitor<'tcx> {
                     | sym::lang
                     | sym::needs_allocator
                     | sym::default_lib_allocator
-                    | sym::start
                     | sym::custom_mir,
                     ..
                 ] => {}
@@ -2559,7 +2558,6 @@ fn check_invalid_crate_level_attr(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, attrs: &[Attribute]) {
         sym::repr,
         sym::path,
         sym::automatically_derived,
-        sym::start,
         sym::rustc_main,
         sym::derive,
         sym::test,

compiler/rustc_passes/src/entry.rs

@@ -11,19 +11,14 @@ use rustc_session::config::{CrateType, EntryFnType, RemapPathScopeComponents, si
 use rustc_span::symbol::sym;
 use rustc_span::{Span, Symbol};
 
-use crate::errors::{
-    AttrOnlyInFunctions, ExternMain, MultipleRustcMain, MultipleStartFunctions, NoMainErr,
-};
+use crate::errors::{AttrOnlyInFunctions, ExternMain, MultipleRustcMain, NoMainErr};
 
 struct EntryContext<'tcx> {
     tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>,
 
     /// The function has the `#[rustc_main]` attribute.
     rustc_main_fn: Option<(LocalDefId, Span)>,
 
-    /// The function that has the attribute `#[start]` on it.
-    start_fn: Option<(LocalDefId, Span)>,
-
     /// The functions that one might think are `main` but aren't, e.g.
     /// main functions not defined at the top level. For diagnostics.
     non_main_fns: Vec<Span>,
@@ -41,8 +36,7 @@ fn entry_fn(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, (): ()) -> Option<(DefId, EntryFnType)> {
         return None;
     }
 
-    let mut ctxt =
-        EntryContext { tcx, rustc_main_fn: None, start_fn: None, non_main_fns: Vec::new() };
+    let mut ctxt = EntryContext { tcx, rustc_main_fn: None, non_main_fns: Vec::new() };
 
     for id in tcx.hir().items() {
         check_and_search_item(id, &mut ctxt);
@@ -58,7 +52,7 @@ fn attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt: &EntryContext<'_>, id: ItemId, sym: Symbol) -> Opti
 
 fn check_and_search_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
     if !matches!(ctxt.tcx.def_kind(id.owner_id), DefKind::Fn) {
-        for attr in [sym::start, sym::rustc_main] {
+        for attr in [sym::rustc_main] {
             if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, attr) {
                 ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyInFunctions { span, attr });
             }
@@ -92,24 +86,11 @@ fn check_and_search_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
                 });
             }
         }
-        EntryPointType::Start => {
-            if ctxt.start_fn.is_none() {
-                ctxt.start_fn = Some((id.owner_id.def_id, ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id)));
-            } else {
-                ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(MultipleStartFunctions {
-                    span: ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id),
-                    labeled: ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id.to_def_id()),
-                    previous: ctxt.start_fn.unwrap().1,
-                });
-            }
-        }
     }
 }
 
 fn configure_main(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, visitor: &EntryContext<'_>) -> Option<(DefId, EntryFnType)> {
-    if let Some((def_id, _)) = visitor.start_fn {
-        Some((def_id.to_def_id(), EntryFnType::Start))
-    } else if let Some((local_def_id, _)) = visitor.rustc_main_fn {
+    if let Some((local_def_id, _)) = visitor.rustc_main_fn {
         let def_id = local_def_id.to_def_id();
         Some((def_id, EntryFnType::Main { sigpipe: sigpipe(tcx) }))
     } else {

compiler/rustc_passes/src/errors.rs

@@ -1273,17 +1273,6 @@ pub(crate) struct MultipleRustcMain {
     pub additional: Span,
 }
 
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(passes_multiple_start_functions, code = E0138)]
-pub(crate) struct MultipleStartFunctions {
-    #[primary_span]
-    pub span: Span,
-    #[label]
-    pub labeled: Span,
-    #[label(passes_previous)]
-    pub previous: Span,
-}
-
 #[derive(Diagnostic)]
 #[diag(passes_extern_main)]
 pub(crate) struct ExternMain {