Arti 1.0.0 is released: Our Rust Tor implementation is ready for production use. | Tor Project

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Summary of Arti: A Next-Gen Tor Implementation

Arti is an experimental Tor implementation developed by the Tor Project, written in Rust to modernize and improve upon the existing C-based software. Its primary goals are enhanced security (via Rust’s memory safety), maintainability, and scalability for future needs like embedded use in applications.

Current Features & Limitations:

  • Acts as a SOCKS proxy for Tor connections (run with arti proxy -p 9150).

  • Embeddable into other apps; early Java integration exists (e.g., OnionMasq mobile project).

  • Lacks onion service support and requires compiling from source.

Roadmap:

  • Short-Term: Support client use cases, including onion services and cross-language embedding (funded via pending Zcash Grants application).

  • Mid-Term: Replace C Tor as a client in most contexts, with preliminary mobile tools already under development.

  • Long-Term: Phase out the C implementation entirely by eventually supporting relays and directory authorities over several years.

Testing & Contribution:

Users can test Arti via cargo install arti or source compilation (requires SQLite dev libraries). Developers should use the stable arti-client crate, referencing examples provided. Bugs/feedback are critical and should be reported on their GitLab tracker (anonymous submissions allowed).

Acknowledgments:

The project credits contributors like Alexander Færoy, Steven Murdoch, and others, plus Zcash Community Grants for potential funding support. Documentation assumes Rust familiarity but guides setup and Tor Browser integration.

Arti aims to become the future of Tor’s infrastructure while maintaining compatibility during transition. Contributors are encouraged to engage early to shape its development.