Getting Started with Cargo: The Rust Package Manager on Linux

To fully leverage the power of Rust, a fast and reliable systems programming language, you need Cargo. Cargo handles project building, downloading and compilation of libraries (dependencies), and much more. It’s an indispensable tool for Rust developers, simplifying tasks that would otherwise be tedious and error-prone. In this blog, we'll explore what makes Cargo stand out, and provide a simple guide to install it on various Linux distributions using different package managers, including apt, dnf, and zypper.

What is Cargo?

Cargo is the Rust package manager and build system that comes along with Rust. It manages Rust projects, ensuring that the build process is reproducible and direct. In addition, Cargo resolves and fetches dependencies, compiles packages, makes sure that dependencies are compatible, and also uploads packages to crates.io, the Rust community’s package registry.

Key Features of Cargo

• Dependency Management: Automatically downloads your project's dependencies and compiles them.

• Convention over Configuration: Standardized project structure and a convention over configuration model, making it easier for developers to collaborate on projects.

• Workspaces: Support for managing multiple related packages within a single project.

• Extensible: Extendable with custom commands via third-party plugins.

Installing Rust and Cargo

Before you install Cargo, you need to install Rust. The rustc compiler and Cargo are installed together using the Rustup tool.

On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems (Using apt):

1. Install Rustup:

   curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
   

   This script downloads and installs rustup, which in turn installs rustc, cargo, and other standard tools.

2. Configure your current shell:

   source $HOME/.cargo/env
   

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL-based systems (Using dnf):

1. Install Rustup:

   curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
   

   Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Configure your current shell:

   source $HOME/.cargo/env
   

On openSUSE (Using zypper):

Although you can install Rust and Cargo directly using zypper, it is recommended to install them using rustup to ensure you have the latest version and can manage updates more flexibly.

1. Install Rustup:

   curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
   

   Then, follow the instructions provided by the script.

2. Configure your current shell:

   source $HOME/.cargo/env
   

Post Installation

Once you have installed Rust and Cargo, you can verify the installation by checking the version of Cargo.

cargo --version

This command should return the version of Cargo if it was successfully installed.

Conclusion

Cargo streamlines the process of managing Rust projects, making it easier to handle even the most complex projects. With support for easy dependency management and project builds, Cargo lets you focus more on writing code than managing it. Whether you're on Ubuntu, Fedora, or openSUSE, the installation process is straightforward, and Rustup ensures you have the latest tools at your disposal. Happy coding in Rust!