How To Install Rust On Ubuntu 22.04

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of installing Rust on Ubuntu 22.04, ensuring a seamless experience for both beginners and experienced developers. Rust has become a strong and cutting-edge option in the world of programming languages. Its emphasis on concurrency, performance, and safety has drawn developers from all over the world. If you’re an Ubuntu 22.04 user eager to harness the potential of Rust, you’ve come to the right place.

Table of Contents

Requirements

Let’s make sure your system meets the requirements before we start the installation process:

A Virtono VPS Running Ubuntu 22.04: Make sure your system is running Ubuntu 22.04 because this guide is specifically for this version.
Access to the Terminal: You should be comfortable with basic command-line operations, as we’ll be extensively using the terminal.
Stable Internet Connection: A reliable internet connection is required to download and install Rust and its associated tools.
Basic Understanding of Package Management: Familiarity with package management tools like apt is a plus but not mandatory.

Assuming your system meets these conditions, let’s move on to installing Rust on Ubuntu 22.04.

Update Your Package List

Making sure you are using the most recent package information is our first priority. Run the following command:

sudo apt update && apt upgrade -y

This command refreshes the package list on your system, ensuring that you have access to the latest package versions during installation.

Install Rust on Ubuntu

The simplest and most recommended method to install Rust on Ubuntu 22.04 is by using rustup, Rust’s official toolchain installer. rustup simplifies the process of managing different Rust versions and components. To install rustup, open your terminal and execute the following command:

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

This command downloads and executes the rustup-init script. You will be asked to read and agree to the license terms during installation. Rustup will be installed on your system once it is finished.

Configure Rust on Ubuntu

You must configure Rust on Ubuntu and its environment after installing rustup. Run the following command to perform this:

source $HOME/.cargo/env

This command makes sure that the executable files for Rust are added to your system’s PATH, making it simple to use Rust commands from any terminal window.

Verify Rust on Ubuntu Installation

To confirm that Rust is successfully installed on your Ubuntu 22.04 system, run the following command:

rustc --version

This command should display the installed Rust version. For example:

rustc x.y.z (abcde1234 yyyy-mm-dd)

Congratulations! You’ve now successfully installed Rust on your Ubuntu 22.04 system.

Update Rust and Cargo

Rust is a dynamically developing language that is constantly getting new features. Run the following command frequently to keep your Rust installation up to date and take advantage of the most recent improvements:

rustup update

This command fetches and installs any updates available for Rust and its package manager, Cargo.

Optional: Install Rust Nightly

Along with its stable and beta releases, Rust also provides a nightly version for developers who like to test out cutting-edge features. Use this command to set up the nightly version:

rustup install nightly

Rustup’s ability to switch between various versions lets you use the nightly version when necessary while keeping the stable version as your default.

Create a Rust Project

First, navigate to the directory where you want to create your Rust project. Then, run the following command to create a new Rust project (you can choose a project name, for example, “factorial_calculator”):

cargo new factorial_calculator

Edit the Rust File

Navigate to the project directory, then, open the src/main.rs file in a text editor of your choice:

cd factorial_calculator
nano src/main.rs

Replace the contents of main.rs with the Rust code provided in the previous example:

use std::io;

fn main() {
    println!("Enter a number to calculate its factorial:");
    
    let mut input = String::new();
    
    io::stdin()
        .read_line(&mut input)
        .expect("Failed to read line");
    
    let input: u64 = match input.trim().parse() {
        Ok(num) => num,
        Err(_) => {
            println!("Invalid input. Please enter a valid number.");
            return;
        }
    };
    
    let factorial = calculate_factorial(input);
    
    println!("The factorial of {} is: {}", input, factorial);
}

fn calculate_factorial(n: u64) -> u64 {
    if n == 0 {
        1
    } else {
        n * calculate_factorial(n - 1)
    }
}

Run the Program

Run the following command to install the C linker and related tools:

sudo apt install build-essential

Now, you are ready to run the Rust program:

cargo run

This command will compile the Rust code and execute the resulting binary. It will prompt you to enter a number, calculate its factorial, and display the result.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we’ve successfully walked through the process of installing Rust on Ubuntu 22.04 using rustup, the official Rust toolchain installer. By following these steps, you now have Rust up and running on your system, ready to embark on your programming journey.

Rust’s commitment to safety, performance, and concurrency makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of projects, from system-level programming to web development. With Rust installed, you’re well-equipped to explore its capabilities and contribute to the vibrant Rust community.

With Rust on Ubuntu at your disposal, you can confidently begin your coding adventures. Rust gives you the tools you need to build reliable and effective software, whether you’re creating system utilities or web applications.