What is Rust Trends?
Rust Trends is a newsletter about all things related to the Rust programming language.
How do I install Rust?
The easiest way to install Rust is with an installer called rustup, an official project from Rust. With this, you can install and update Rust conveniently from your command line.
If you do not want to install anything this might be something for you Rust Playground.
What is the best way to learn Rust?
Rust is known for its great documentation. This is the official starting point to Learn Rust. For more resources look at our Newsletter Edition 26
Can you learn Rust as your first programming language?
Yes, you can learn Rust as your first programming language, though it comes with both challenges and benefits.
The Reality: Rust has a reputation for being challenging, particularly due to concepts like ownership, borrowing, and lifetimes. Most experts suggest it's not the easiest first language. However, the landscape has improved significantly in recent years with better documentation and learning resources.
Why It Can Work:
- Strong Community Support: The Rust community is incredibly welcoming with active forums, Discord servers, and mentorship opportunities
- Excellent Documentation: The Rust Book is comprehensive and beginner-friendly
- Modern Language Design: You'll learn good programming practices from the start without picking up bad habits
- Growing Demand: Rust developers are highly sought after, with a 68.75% increase in commercial Rust usage between 2021-2024
Learning Path for Beginners:
- Start with The Rust Book
- Practice with Rustlings exercises
- Join the /r/learnrust subreddit and Rust Community Discord
- Build projects on CodeCrafters for hands-on learning (referral link - but I wouldn't recommend it if it weren't genuinely excellent)
Bottom Line: While challenging, many beginners successfully learn Rust as their first language in 2024. Companies report typical onboarding time of 3-6 months for new Rust developers. If you're motivated and patient with the learning curve, Rust can be an excellent foundation for your programming journey.