What are the benefits of the Rust programming language over competitors like C++ or Zig?
Rust is a relatively new systems programming language that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years due to its safety features, performance, and modern design. Here are some of the key benefits of Rust compared to competitors like C++ and Zig:

Memory Safety: Rust provides memory safety guarantees by using a strict ownership model, preventing data races and null pointer dereferences at compile-time. This makes it easier to write reliable and secure code compared to C++, where these types of bugs can be difficult to find and fix.

Performance: Rust is designed to be fast and efficient, with low-level control over system resources. It provides fine-grained control over memory allocation and low-level concurrency constructs, making it possible to write high-performance systems code.

Interoperability: Rust has excellent interoperability with other languages, including C and C++. This makes it easier to integrate Rust code with existing systems and take advantage of existing libraries and tools written in other languages.

Modern Design: Rust has a modern design, with features like strong type inference, a clean syntax, and a focus on concurrency. This makes it easier to write code that is both readable and maintainable, compared to C++, which can be more verbose and difficult to read.

Strong Community: Rust has a growing and supportive community of developers, who contribute to the language and its ecosystem by writing libraries and tools, documenting best practices, and providing support to new users.

In comparison, Zig is another systems programming language that aims to provide safety and performance. However, Rust has a more mature and robust ecosystem, with a larger number of libraries and tools available, making it easier to get started and build projects with Rust.
Are there another programming languages that are comparable to Rust, Zig and C++?
Yes, in terms of performance, there are several programming languages that are comparable for low-level control and systems programming.
Here are a few examples:

1. D: statically typed, systems programming language that is designed to offer high-level abstractions and modern features while still providing low-level control and performance.
2. V: statically typed, low-level programming language designed for high performance, security, and readability. 
3. Nim: statically typed compiled systems programming language, It combines successful concepts from mature languages like Python, Ada and Modula. 
4. Go: statically typed, concurrent programming language developed by Google for building reliable and efficient systems.
5. Crystal: statically typed, general-purpose programming language that combines the performance and low-level control of C with the readability and expressiveness of Ruby.

The choice of language will depend on the specific requirements of the project and the preferences of the programmer.
If I'm interested in maintaining legacy software rather than working on new projects, which language should I focus on?