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Using Variables and Types

In this chapter, we look at the basic building blocks of a Rust program, like variables and types. We discuss variables of primitive types, whether their type has to be declared or not, and the scope of variables. Immutability, one of the cornerstones of Rust's safety strategy, is also discussed and illustrated.

We will cover the following topics:

Comments
Global constants
Values and primitive types
Binding variables to values
Scope of a variable and shadowing
Type checking and conversions
Expressions
The stack and the heap

Our code examples will center on building a text-based game called Monster Attack.

Key benefits

Get started with Rust to build scalable and high performance applications

Enhance your application development skills using the power of Rust

Discover the power of Rust when developing concurrent applications for large and scalable software

Description

Rust is the new, open source, fast, and safe systems programming language for the 21st century, developed at Mozilla Research, and with a steadily growing community. It was created to solve the dilemma between high-level, slow code with minimal control over the system, and low-level, fast code with maximum system control. It is no longer necessary to learn C/C++ to develop resource intensive and low-level systems applications. This book will give you a head start to solve systems programming and application tasks with Rust. We start off with an argumentation of Rust's unique place in today's landscape of programming languages. You'll install Rust and learn how to work with its package manager Cargo. The various concepts are introduced step by step: variables, types, functions, and control structures to lay the groundwork. Then we explore more structured data such as strings, arrays, and enums, and you’ll see how pattern matching works. Throughout all this, we stress the unique ways of reasoning that the Rust compiler uses to produce safe code. Next we look at Rust's specific way of error handling, and the overall importance of traits in Rust code. The pillar of memory safety is treated in depth as we explore the various pointer kinds. Next, you’ll see how macros can simplify code generation, and how to compose bigger projects with modules and crates. Finally, you’ll discover how we can write safe concurrent code in Rust and interface with C programs, get a view of the Rust ecosystem, and explore the use of the standard library.

What you will learn

Set up your Rust environment to achieve the highest productivity

Bridge the performance gap between safe and unsafe languages

Use pattern matching to create flexible code

Apply generics and traits to develop widely applicable code

Organize your code in modules and crates

Build macros to extend Rust's capabilities and reach

Apply tasks to tackle problems concurrently in a distributed environment

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