Rust Top-Down

This is an overview/tutorial of the Rust programming language for progrmamers coming from 'higher' level languages.

Rust is best groked from a C++/C perspective, so some content that attends to the background of programmers with Java/.NET/Python backgrounds lets us skip a few topics, but more importantly post warning signs where OO thinking may introduce obstacles to success.

The Rust Programming Language - aka 'The Book' is a great resource and should certainly be used in conjuction with the content if you are new to Rust programming.

Rust code and libraries are also easily 'self-documented', and one of the best examples is the std crate. (a crate being the equivilant of an npm or nuget package). std For core concepts (e.g. references, types, etc.), the api documentation often provides conceptual context that is very helpful.

A personal favorite, though sparse in parts, is the [reference book].(https://doc.rust-lang.org/stable/reference/) It's readable and not strictly a formal reference.

Keep in mind that post-install, you have the core documentation installed locally. Launch with rustup doc

How to Use

• The content/progress is fairly linear.

• The README for each chapter explains concepts and then typically presents an exercise.

• If you fork or clone this repository, most of the exercises are in the /src folder.

• You know how you learn best, but taking the examples, tweeking them, and playing with the problem/topics works well for most.

• The original content was developed as part of an in-house course on Rust, and is a WIP, so some oddities may appear.

Objectives

• Provide an introduction to Rust that will get you moving, quickly
• Keep the lessons small and focused, one or two topics, max
• Build a solid foundation in Rust for further development
• Provide contextual information for OO programmers looking for a frame of reference

Other Notes and Tips

• Resist the temptation to skim the Rust documention, jump over to github, pull a random project and start compiling. A good foundation will get you moving faster.
• Rust code can be a bit intimidating at first glance (and even after a few more glances). However you're not obliged to use the advanced features of the language to get moving. There are solid applications and libraries that are light on generics, inter-thread communication, macros, unsafe code, etc.