For the time being, I consider alloc and std to be part of the language, and the compiler also has provisions for them if they are used. If the alternative is supposed to be only using core, then the language does not provide for control over allocations the way Zig does. Imposing allocations with no control and not providing allocations at all are both failure modes. With enough effort, anyone could do anything, but programming languages exist to control and enhance certain things under their purview. Rust does not have a comparable facility to control allocations like it controls ownership and borrowing. Just as C-with-tooling being safe isn't the same as C being safe, Rust-with-libraries providing control over allocations isn't the same as Rust providing control over allocations.