Let’s look at the best online resources to learn Rust for free in 2023.
As ever-growing developers, we're always on the lookout for tools that can help us create more efficient, reliable, and secure software.
And when it comes to programming languages there are the classic favourites we know such as Java, JavaScript or Python etc, which we use to build great things.
Yet, there's one more language that's been steadily climbing the popularity ranks among developers - Rust ⚙️.
The Rust programming language is celebrated for its capacity to construct high-performance applications and has been making waves in the programming community and has even risen to become the most loved language, according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey.
Let’s take a quick look at why people love Rust…
What is Rust?
Rust is a modern system programming language, known for its focus on performance, reliability, and productivity.
Rust was born out of a personal project by Graydon Hoare in 2006 and is designed to provide memory safety without sacrificing performance.
What sets Rust apart is its unique approach to memory management. It uses a system of ownership with a set of rules that the compiler checks at compile-time, eliminating the need for a garbage collector.
This makes Rust an ideal choice for creating highly efficient system-level software.
A Brief History of Rust
Rust's journey began in 2006, but it wasn't until 2009 that Mozilla began sponsoring the project.
The goal was to create a language that could replace C++ for some of Mozilla's systems programming tasks, providing better memory safety, concurrency, and performance.
After years of development, the first stable release, Rust 1.0, was launched in 2015. Since then, Rust has continued to evolve, guided by an open and collaborative community.
So Why Learn Rust?
Why should you consider learning Rust?
Well firstly, Rust offers a unique blend of high-level syntax with low-level power. This means you can write code that's easy to read and maintain, while also having the ability to control system resources precisely.
Rust's memory safety guarantees also mean fewer crashes and security vulnerabilities in your software.
Rust is versatile and can be used in many types of applications. It's a great choice for system programming, game development, and even web applications thanks to frameworks like Rocket and Actix.
Big tech companies like Dropbox, Cloudflare, and of course, Mozilla itself have used Rust to improve the performance and reliability of their systems.
Not to mention Rust skills are in high demand.
As more companies recognise the benefits of Rust, they're looking for developers who can harness its power - and that could be you!
Learning Rust can open up new opportunities and give you a competitive edge in your career.
To get started let’s check out some great free online resources for learning Rust programming:
#1 - The Official Rust Docs
The official Rust documentation offers three comprehensive resources for learning Rust:
First, The Rust Programming Language, affectionately known as "the book," provides a thorough overview of Rust, guiding you through several projects to solidify your understanding of the language.
Alternatively, the Rustlings course helps you set up the Rust toolchain and introduces you to the basics of Rust syntax in a hands-on, command-line environment.
Lastly, if you prefer a more code-centric approach, Rust By Example presents a wealth of code samples with practical exercises.
These resources cater to different learning styles, ensuring you can find a path that suits you best.
#2 - FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp's "Learn Rust Programming" course is an excellent resource for those ready to learn this popular language.
Using Replit you will work entirely within your browser using an interactive programming environment.
A video version of the course is also available on the freeCodeCamp YouTube channel.
To solidify your Rust skills, the course guides you through creating two projects: a command-line calculator and a tool that combines the pixels of two images.
#3 - Educative
Educative's "Learn Rust from Scratch" course offers a hands-on approach to mastering Rust, starting with a basic "Hello world" program and gradually introducing common concepts like Arrays, Strings, Vectors, Enums, Structures, Traits, Generics, Functions, and Logic.
The course also goes into advanced topics such as Lifetime and memory management.
Once completed, you'll have a solid foundation in Rust basics and be prepared to tackle more complex concepts, equipping you with the skills to confidently use Rust in your projects.
#4 - Learning Rust
"Learning Rust" by Dumindu Madunuwan is a comprehensive tutorial series originally published on Medium.
The tutorial starts with the basics, explaining why Rust is a valuable language to learn, how to install it, and how to structure your first projects.
It covers fundamental concepts such as variable bindings, functions, primitive data types, and control flows.
The series then progresses to more advanced topics, including vectors, structs, enums, generics, and the unique Rust concepts of ownership, borrowing, and lifetimes. The tutorial also looks at code organisation, error handling, and the use of Rust's standard library.
By the end of this series, you'll have a thorough understanding of Rust, from the basics to more complex aspects.
#5 - Programiz
Programiz's "Learn Rust Programming" tutorial is a step-by-step guide designed to help you grasp Rust programming.
The tutorial covers a wide range of topics, starting with an introduction to Rust and its significance, and then going into control flow, data types, functions, and standard library types.
It also explores error handling, memory management, modules, packages, and other additional topics.
This detailed guide provides a structured approach to learning Rust, making it an excellent resource for both beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of the language.
#6 - Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn's "Take Your First Steps with Rust" course is an excellent starting point for those interested in learning this increasingly popular programming language.
The course lays a solid foundation for building efficient Rust programs. It guides you through installing the necessary tools, understanding basic Rust concepts, handling errors, managing memory, using generic types and traits, setting up modules for packages and crates, and writing and running automated tests.
The course ends with creating a command-line program. With no prerequisites needed, it's an accessible tutorial for anyone eager to explore Rust.
Bonus - Rust Cheatsheets
For quick handy reminders of Rust syntax and functions, you can check out these cheatsheets:
In conclusion, as we’ve seen, Rust is a powerful and increasingly popular programming language that offers a unique blend of performance, safety, and productivity.
Rust offers a rewarding learning journey for anyone willing to learn the language.
We've explored some of the best free resources available to help you master Rust, from comprehensive books and interactive online courses to hands-on tutorials.
Each resource caters to different learning styles and levels of expertise, ensuring that everyone can find a path that suits them best.
Most importantly, the Rust community is known for being supportive and welcoming, so you're never alone in your learning journey.
Rust assured, you've got this!
From your fellow ever-growing dev,
Cherlock Code
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