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Install Rust and use Cargo

Install Rust and use Cargo

A local Rust project needs the Rust toolchain: rustc compiles source, Cargo manages projects and dependencies, and rustup manages installed toolchains. Follow the official installation instructions for your operating system. An editor can help, but it does not replace the compiler.

Check rustc --version and cargo --version. Create a project with cargo new school, enter its directory and replace src/main.rs with the program below. Run cargo run. For a standalone file, rustc --edition=2024 main.rs builds it; run ./main on macOS/Linux or .\main.exe on Windows.

What you’ll learn

  • Create and run a Cargo console project.
  • Identify whether a failure concerns tooling, source or launching.

Install Rust and use Cargo in action

  1. Install rustup tooling

    Cargo first checks and builds the project, then launches the executable.

    Install rustup tooling

  2. Build src/main.rs

    Its build messages are separate from the program output shown here.

    Build src/main.rs

  3. Run the executable

    Cargo.toml describes the package and its edition; Cargo.lock records resolved dependency versions.

    Run the executable
Cargo first checks and builds the project, then launches the executable. Its build messages are separate from the program output shown here. Cargo.toml describes the package and its edition; Cargo.lock records resolved dependency versions.

Work through the Rust program

Save the complete source as main.rs in the Rust environment. No standard input is needed.

Rust 2024 · complete program

fn main() { println!("Rust setup ready"); }

Expected output

Rust setup ready

Follow the execution

Cargo first checks and builds the project, then launches the executable. Its build messages are separate from the program output shown here. Cargo.toml describes the package and its edition; Cargo.lock records resolved dependency versions.

Try the complete program in the Rust compiler. For tests, Cargo commands and local files, use the specified local environment.

Try a small variation

Your task: What should you investigate if cargo is not found?

Rust 2024 · complete program

fn main() { println!("Rust setup ready"); }

Worked answer

Check installation and the shell path. Editing the greeting cannot make an unavailable tool appear; reopen the shell if the installer changed its environment.

Mistakes and limits to recognize

Examples use Rust 2024 edition and the standard library unless a section explicitly says otherwise. A dependency download needs network access. Toolchain versions change, so follow the linked installation guide rather than assuming a version number is permanently current.

Check your understanding

What should you investigate if cargo is not found?
Choose one answer. You can try again.

Answer and explanation

Check installation and the shell path.

Check installation and the shell path. Editing the greeting cannot make an unavailable tool appear; reopen the shell if the installer changed its environment.

Take the idea into your next program

Check installation and the shell path. Editing the greeting cannot make an unavailable tool appear; reopen the shell if the installer changed its environment. Examples use Rust 2024 edition and the standard library unless a section explicitly says otherwise.

Further reading: the official Rust Book on install rust and use cargo.

Reaching the recap and completing the quizzes are separate milestones.

    Next lesson: Rust Hello World program →