1. rust
  2. /basics

Rust Basics

Welcome to Rust Basics! This section covers the fundamental concepts you need to get started with Rust programming. Whether you're new to programming or coming from another language, these topics will give you a solid foundation in Rust.

What You'll Learn

This section covers the essential building blocks of Rust programming:

Core Language Features

  • Installation & Setup - Get Rust installed and configured on your system
  • Syntax - Learn Rust's unique syntax and conventions
  • Variables & Mutability - Understand Rust's approach to variables and data modification
  • Data Types - Explore Rust's type system including primitives and compound types

Programming Fundamentals

  • Functions - Write reusable code with functions and understand ownership in function calls
  • Control Flow - Master conditional statements, loops, and pattern matching
  • Comments - Document your code effectively

Project Management

  • Cargo & Modules - Organize your code with Rust's package manager and module system

Getting Started

If you're brand new to Rust, we recommend following this order:

  1. Installation & Setup - Set up your development environment
  2. Syntax - Learn the basic syntax and structure
  3. Variables & Mutability - Understand how data works in Rust
  4. Data Types - Explore Rust's type system
  5. Functions - Write your first functions
  6. Control Flow - Add logic and loops to your programs
  7. Comments - Learn to document your code
  8. Cargo & Modules - Organize larger projects

Key Concepts to Master

By the end of this section, you should be comfortable with:

  • Setting up a Rust development environment
  • Writing basic Rust programs with proper syntax
  • Understanding Rust's ownership model at a fundamental level
  • Using variables, constants, and basic data types
  • Writing and calling functions
  • Implementing control flow with if/else and loops
  • Organizing code with modules and using Cargo for project management

Next Steps

After completing the basics, you'll be ready to dive into more advanced topics:

Sample Programs

Here are some simple programs you'll be able to write after completing this section:

// A simple calculator function
fn calculate(operation: &str, a: f64, b: f64) -> Option<f64> {
    match operation {
        "add" => Some(a + b),
        "subtract" => Some(a - b),
        "multiply" => Some(a * b),
        "divide" if b != 0.0 => Some(a / b),
        _ => None,
    }
}

// A program that processes a list of numbers
fn main() {
    let numbers = vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
    let mut sum = 0;
    
    for number in numbers {
        sum += number;
    }
    
    println!("Sum: {}", sum);
    println!("Average: {}", sum as f64 / 5.0);
}

Ready to begin your Rust journey? Start with Installation & Setup!