aya
Aya is a Rust library for writing and managing eBPF programs in the Linux kernel without relying on C toolchains or external dependencies like libbpf. It simplifies kernel-level observability, security, and networking tasks by enabling developers to write eBPF code in pure Rust with support for compilation-once, run-everywhere portability.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | aya-rs/aya |
| Owner | aya-rs |
| Primary language | Rust |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 4.7k |
| Forks | 448 |
| Open issues | 193 |
| Latest release | aya-ebpf-v0.2.1 (2026-06-30) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
| Source | https://github.com/aya-rs/aya |
What aya is
Aya provides a pure-Rust eBPF framework with BTF (BPF Type Format) support for kernel portability, async I/O integration (tokio/async-std), and function call relocation for global data maps. It eliminates C dependencies by using only libc syscalls and supports rapid compilation without requiring kernel headers or build artifacts.
Get the aya source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/aya-rs/aya.gitcd aya# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Linux kernel with eBPF support (typically 5.8+); verify target kernel exposes required program types and BTF availability.
- eBPF programs run in restricted sandbox; not all kernel operations are permitted—validate use case against eBPF verifier constraints.
- Async support (tokio/async-std) integrates with userspace control plane, but eBPF programs themselves are synchronous; plan latency budgets accordingly.
- No external C dependencies simplifies deployment but shifts all eBPF semantics to Rust; ensure team is comfortable debugging at kernel-Rust boundary.
- BTF support is transparent but optional; non-BTF kernels still supported with recompilation if needed.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Non-Linux Environments — eBPF is Linux-specific; Aya is not applicable to Windows, macOS, or non-Linux systems.
- Minimal Kernel Version Support Requirement — eBPF support varies by kernel version; older kernels may not expose required eBPF program types or BTF. Verify kernel baseline compatibility before adoption.
- Teams Without Systems/Kernel Expertise — eBPF development requires understanding of kernel subsystems, syscall semantics, and BPF program attachment points; teams unfamiliar with kernel-space debugging may face steep learning curves.
- Strict C Legacy Ecosystem Lock-In — If your infrastructure relies heavily on libbpf or BCC tooling and teams are deeply invested in C-based eBPF workflows, migration friction may be high.
License & commercial use
Dual-licensed under Apache-2.0 or MIT at licensee's choice. Both are permissive OSI-approved licenses permitting commercial use, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions.
Commercial use is explicitly permitted under both Apache-2.0 and MIT licenses. No proprietary restrictions or commercial licensing requirements noted. Verify compliance with your legal team regarding license choice, but no barriers to commercial deployment are evident from the license terms.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
eBPF programs execute in kernel space with restricted capabilities enforced by the kernel verifier; memory safety is guaranteed by the verifier, not Rust type safety alone. Verify that loaded eBPF programs come from trusted sources, as malicious programs could impact kernel stability. No notable CVEs cited in provided data; review security advisories separately. Deployment requires Linux capabilities (typically CAP_BPF or similar); restrict access to eBPF loading in multi-tenant environments.
Alternatives to consider
libbpf (C library)
Mature C-based eBPF framework with broader adoption; requires C toolchain and kernel headers but offers more documentation in the C ecosystem.
BCC (Berkeley Packet Filter Compiler)
Python/C frontend for eBPF with JIT compilation; easier on-the-fly scripting but heavier dependencies and less suited for embedded/production binaries.
cilium/ebpf (Go)
Go-native eBPF library; good alternative if Go is preferred language, but Aya has native Rust async integration and smaller footprint.
Build on aya with DEV.co software developers
If your team needs to deploy eBPF programs without C dependencies and across multiple Linux kernels, Aya offers a modern Rust-native alternative. Review our systems engineering services to plan integration.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
aya FAQ
Do I need a C compiler or kernel headers to use Aya?
Can a single Aya binary run on multiple kernel versions?
What kernel version is required?
Is Aya suitable for production?
Software developers & web developers for hire
DEV.co is a software development agency delivering custom software development services to companies building on open source. Our software developers and web developers design, integrate, and ship production systems — spanning web development, APIs, AI, data, and cloud. If aya is part of your open-source observability roadmap, our team can implement, customize, migrate, and maintain it.
Evaluate Aya for Your Kernel-Level Observability Needs
If your team needs to deploy eBPF programs without C dependencies and across multiple Linux kernels, Aya offers a modern Rust-native alternative. Review our systems engineering services to plan integration.