Five years ago, the delta-rs project embarked on a journey to bring Delta Lake's robust capabilities to the Rust & Python ecosystem. In this talk, we'll delve into the triumphs, tribulations and lessons learned along the way. We'll explore how delta-rs has matured alongside the thriving Rust data ecosystem, adapting to its evolving landscape and overcoming the challenges of maintaining a complex data project. Join us as we share insights into the project's evolution, the symbiotic relationship between delta-rs and the Rust community, and the current hurdles and future directions that lie ahead. Audio for this session is delivered in the conference mobile app, you must bring your own headphones to listen.