Installing Rust

JavaScript developers are familiar with Node.js and npm for building JavaScript applications. Similarly, Rust has its own toolchain that we’ll install in this guide.

Rustup: The Rust Toolchain Installer

The recommended way to install Rust is through rustup, which is similar in concept to nvm for Node.js. It allows you to:

• Install and manage multiple Rust versions
• Keep your Rust installation up to date
• Install additional components like documentation

Installation Steps

For macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems:

Open your terminal and run:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

This is similar to how you might install developer tools on Unix systems (like brew or nvm).

Follow the on-screen instructions. Typically, you’ll want the default installation option.

For Windows:

1. Download the installer from rustup.rs
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions

Verifying Your Installation

After installation, you’ll need to either restart your terminal or run:

source $HOME/.cargo/env

Then verify your installation:

rustc --version
cargo --version

You should see version information for both commands.

Understanding the Rust Toolchain

When you install Rust through rustup, you get several important tools:

1. rustc: The Rust compiler (similar to Node.js’s V8 engine)
2. cargo: Rust’s package manager and build system (similar to npm/yarn)
3. rustup: The toolchain installer and manager itself

JavaScript Equivalents

JavaScript Ecosystem	Rust Ecosystem
node	rustc
npm / yarn	cargo
nvm	rustup
package.json	Cargo.toml
node_modules/	target/
npx	cargo run

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Most JavaScript developers are used to excellent editor support. For Rust, the best experience is currently with:

Visual Studio Code

If you’re already using VS Code for JavaScript, you can add Rust support:

1. Install the rust-analyzer extension
2. Optionally install CodeLLDB for debugging

Other Editors

• JetBrains IDEs: Use the Rust plugin or the dedicated RustRover
• Vim/Neovim: Use rust-analyzer with CoC or built-in LSP
• Emacs: Use rust-analyzer with Eglot or LSP-mode

Setting Up Your First Project

Now that you have Rust installed, you can create your first Rust project using Cargo!

Updating Rust

To update your Rust installation (similar to npm update -g):

rustup update

Troubleshooting

Missing Compiler Tools on Windows

If you’re on Windows and encounter errors about missing tools, you might need to install the Microsoft C++ Build Tools.

Path Issues

If you get “command not found” errors, ensure that ~/.cargo/bin is in your PATH.

Getting Help

If you encounter any issues, the Rust community is very helpful:

• Rust User Forums
• Rust Discord
• Stack Overflow

Next Steps

Now that you’ve installed Rust and set up your development environment, let’s write your first Rust program! Continue to Hello World to see how to create and run a simple Rust program.