‍Rust, or rust-lang, is a versatile, general-purpose programming language with syntax similarities to C++. Employed in various software development projects, Rust is used in creating browser components, game engines, and even operating systems. This article will guide you through the installation of Rust on Ubuntu 20.04, demonstrating how to create, compile, and run a test program. This guide will use Rust version 1.66 as an example.

Prerequisites

Before beginning, make sure you have an Ubuntu 20.04 server with a non-root user with sudo privileges and a firewall. You can set this up by referring to the Initial Server Setup guide with Ubuntu 20.04.

Installation Process

There are several ways to install Rust on Linux, but the recommended method is to use the rustup command-line tool.

Downloading and Installing Rust

To download the rustup tool and install the latest stable version of Rust, run the following command:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.3 https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh

You will be prompted to choose the type of installation.

shapehost@ubuntu:~$ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.3 https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh
...
1) Proceed with installation (default)
2) Customize installation
3) Cancel installation
>

For the purposes of this article, we will proceed with the default installation (option 1). However, if you’re familiar with the rustup installer and wish to customize your installation, you can select option 2.

Adding Rust to the PATH Environment Variable

After successful installation, add the Rust toolchain directory to the PATH environment variable by running:

source $HOME/.cargo/env

Verifying the Installation

Confirm the successful installation of Rust by checking the version:

rustc --version

This command returns the version of the Rust programming language installed on your system.

Installing a Compiler

Rust requires a linker program to join compiled outputs into a single file. The GNU Compiler Collection (gcc) in the build-essential package includes a linker.

Updating the Apt Package Index

First, update the Apt package index:

sudo apt update

Upgrading Out-of-date Packages

Next, upgrade any out-of-date packages:

sudo apt upgrade

Installing the build-essential package

Finally, install the build-essential package:

sudo apt install build-essential

Creating, Compiling, and Running a Test Program

In this section, you will create a test program to verify that Rust is working properly.

Creating Directories for the Test Script

Create some directories to store the test script:

mkdir ~/rustprojects
cd ~/rustprojects
mkdir testdir
cd testdir

Creating and Saving the Rust Program

Use nano, or your preferred text editor, to create a file in testdir to store your Rust code:

nano test.rs

Rust programs should always use the .rs extension.

Copy the following code into test.rs and save the file:

fn main() {
println!("Congratulations! Your Rust program works.");
}

Compiling and Running the Test Program

Compile the code using the rustc command:

rustc test.rs

Run the resulting executable:

./test

The program prints to the terminal:

shapehost@ubuntu:~/rustprojects/testdir$ ./test
Congratulations! Your Rust program works.
shapehost@ubuntu:~/rustprojects/testdir$

Other Common Rust Commands

It’s recommended to update your Rust installation regularly.

Updating Rust

To update Rust, run the following command:

rustup update

Uninstalling Rust

If necessary, you can also uninstall Rust and its associated repositories. Run the following command to uninstall Rust:

rustup self uninstall

You will be prompted to confirm the uninstallation process.

Conclusion

With Rust successfully installed and tested on Ubuntu, you are now ready to take on more advanced Ubuntu tutorials. Rust is a powerful language that offers performance, reliability, and the ability to develop robust applications, making it a favorite among developers.

The steps outlined in this article will ensure that you have a smooth installation process, providing you with the necessary tools to start your journey with Rust.

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Christian Wells