Rust is a fast, safe, modern programming language that compiles to native code and helps prevent bugs through strict compile-time checks. It is ideal for JavaScript developers who want more control, better performance, and safer concurrency in system-level or backend development.
If you are a JavaScript developer and you are wondering what Rust is and why so many people are switching to it, this post will give you clear, simple answers.
Rust is a modern systems programming language that helps you write fast and safe software. Unlike JavaScript, which is interpreted and runs in a browser or on Node.js, Rust compiles directly to machine code. This means it runs very fast and gives you a lot of control over how memory is managed.
Rust is used in many areas: web servers, game engines, operating systems, WebAssembly apps, and command-line tools. If you are used to JavaScript, you will notice some big changes in how Rust works, especially in how it handles memory and errors. This post will help you start thinking in Rust, without feeling overwhelmed.
Why I Decided to Learn Rust
When I started writing larger JavaScript applications, I often ran into problems that were hard to debug—things like runtime errors, unexpected behavior, or memory issues. JavaScript gives you a lot of freedom, but it also makes it easy to introduce bugs that only appear later.
Rust caught my attention because it gives you the tools to prevent these bugs before your program even runs. Its compiler is strict, but it teaches you how to write better code. And once it compiles, your code is usually fast and reliable.
If you have used TypeScript, you already understand the value of type safety. Rust takes that even further with features like ownership, lifetimes, and pattern matching.
What Makes Rust Different from JavaScript
Let me give you a quick comparison of how Rust differs from JavaScript in ways that matter most:
| Feature | JavaScript | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Typing | Dynamic (TypeScript adds static typing) | Static and enforced |
| Memory | Garbage collected | Manual but safe through ownership |
| Speed | Medium (interpreted or JIT) | High (compiled to machine code) |
| Errors | Runtime exceptions | Compile-time checks with Result and Option |
| Concurrency | Single-threaded (with async) | Multi-threaded and async support |
| Ecosystem | Huge, web-first | Smaller, growing fast, powerful for backends and systems |
A Simple “Hello World” Example in Rust
Let me show you how a basic Rust program looks, just to help you see the syntax. We will dive deeper in the next post, but here is the first thing every Rust developer writes:
fn main() {
println!("Hello, world!");
}
Output:
Hello, world!
This is very similar to JavaScript’s console.log(“Hello, world!”), but it uses a macro called println! to print text to the terminal. The exclamation mark is not a typo. It means println! is a macro, not a normal function.
How Rust Helps You Write Better Code
Here are some things that helped me understand why Rust is special:
1. No Garbage Collector
Rust does not have a garbage collector. It uses a system called ownership. This means that the compiler checks who owns a piece of memory and makes sure there are no memory leaks or data races.
2. No Null or Undefined
In Rust, there is no concept of null or undefined. Instead, you use a type called Option. This makes it much harder to run into problems like “Cannot read property of undefined”.
3. Errors are Handled with Result
Instead of throwing exceptions, most functions that can fail return a Result. You handle both the success and error cases explicitly. This makes it clear where problems can happen.
4. Concurrency without Fear
Rust has built-in support for threads and async programming. It also checks that your code is safe to run across multiple threads, which helps avoid bugs that are very hard to find in JavaScript.
When Should You Use Rust?
Rust is a good choice when:
- You need high performance (for example, games, APIs, real-time apps).
- You care about catching errors before runtime.
- You want better safety when handling memory or concurrency.
- You are building something in WebAssembly.
It might not be the best tool if:
- You are building simple UI-heavy apps where JavaScript frameworks shine.
- You need to work very fast and do not have time to learn new rules.
But if you want to level up as a developer and learn how programs really work under the hood, Rust is one of the best languages to learn.
Getting Started
To start writing Rust, you need to install the Rust toolchain using rustup, which includes the compiler (rustc) and the build tool (cargo). We will go over this step in detail in the next post.
If you have not read it yet, my next post will show you exactly how to set up your Rust environment and run your first project using Cargo. After that, we will write a full breakdown of the “Hello World” program and start working with variables, types, and control flow.
Next up: Setting Up the Rust Environment
Summary
Rust is a safe, fast, modern language that gives you more control than JavaScript. It checks your code at compile time and helps you avoid bugs early. If you are already a JavaScript developer, learning Rust will help you write more reliable software and understand how systems work at a lower level.