Why is Rust Language Becoming Popular and Should You Learn it?

Even if you are not a coder, you may have heard of the more popular programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, or PHP. However, there is an addition to the list of favored programming languages among software developers. Rust programming language has gained recognition due to its ability to build high-performance applications. According to Statista, Rust was the 14th most-used programming language in the world in 2022. Let’s understand more about this programming language, its features, and its benefits.

What is the Rust Programming Language Used For?

Rust is a modern computer programming language developed by Mozilla in 2010. It was initially developed to build high-programming applications without the issue of invalid memory access that developers were facing while using C and C++. This system programming language facilitates designing and writing computer programs that allow smooth integration of computer hardware and software. 

The main purpose of using Rust is enhanced safety, speed, and concurrency, or the ability to run multiple computations parallelly. In simple words, Rust is used for three essential purposes in programming: performance, safety, and memory management. Hence, Rust is used to develop advanced applications like gaming engines, operating systems, and browsers that demand scalability.

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Why Should You Learn Rust Programming Language?

Rust is an advanced programming language that is beneficial to build tech applications that align with modern Information Technology (IT) architecture requirements. Here are the top four reasons why you should learn Rust:

1. Rust facilitates easy scalability and concurrency and is suitable for building heavy applications to meet the increasing tech demands in the modern world.
2. It uses a logical and functional syntax that allows developers to handle low-level programming for IoT (Internet of Things) applications.
3. The old codes in Rust are compatible with the newer versions of the language.
4. Rust has an asynchronous processing model that allows developers to create and run independent functions, which can be collaborated later.

Features of Rust Programming Language

• Safety and enhanced memory management without having a garbage collector (automatic memory management feature)
• Zero-cost abstraction (a feature that allows developers to hide internal details of the code)
• “Efficient C bindings” which allow developers to integrate Rust and C programming language features
• A unique manual memory management feature that provides control of the allocation and deallocation of memory
• A type interference feature that automatically determines an expression while coding

Unleashing the Advantages of Rust Programming Language

• Reduces data compile time as it provides better concurrency than other programming languages
• Provides low-level control for giving direct programming instructions, despite having a manual memory management feature 
• A friendlier syntax in comparison to C++ and provides better code safety

Understanding the Limitations of Rust Programming Language

• A relatively newer programming language and some of its features are not fully implemented
• Does not support data structures like lists or vectors and is not object-oriented 
• Risk of memory leaks increased by the manual memory management feature in Rust 

Example of Rust Programming Language

Here is an example of Rust code to help you understand Rust better and how it works:

First, you must create a main.rs file after installing Rust on Windows. Once you open the file, enter the below-given code:

fn main() {

 println!(“Hello, world!”);

}

Now, you need to enter the following command on Windows

> rustc main.rs

> .\main.exe

Hello, world!

After the command is complete, you will see “Hello, world!” printed on your screen.

How to Learn Rust Programming Language?

Rust is a high-level programming language with features different from C++ or Java. Therefore, you will need in-depth knowledge of programming to work on Rust. The following are some of the ways through which you can learn Rust and its best practices.

Reading Books

One of the best ways to learn the theoretical concepts of this language is to read books. Some of the most popular books on Rust are The Rust Programming Language (Covers Rust 2018), written by the Mozilla Team, and Beginning Rust Programming by Ric Messier.

Try Easy Codes

Once you gain sufficient knowledge of Rust, you should try easy coding exercises to learn the features of this language. Practicing various codes will help you learn the fundamental rules of Rust.

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Install Programming Libraries

To make coding in Rust easier, you can install various programming libraries like Tokio, Bitflags, and Rand. You can use the pre-written codes available in these libraries to optimize your codes.

In addition to the above-mentioned steps, you can also pursue online programming courses on programming that will help you understand Rust, its fundamental concepts, and its benefits. You can consider enrolling in Emeritus’ online coding courses to advance your career in this field.

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