How To Install Rust on Linux Mint 22

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Rust on Linux Mint 22.  Rust, a systems programming language known for its performance and safety, has gained significant popularity among developers in recent years. Installing Rust on Linux Mint 22 opens up a world of possibilities for creating efficient and reliable software applications.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Rust on Linux Mint 22, configuring the environment, and verifying the installation. By the end of this article, you will have a solid foundation to start developing with Rust on your Linux Mint system.

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Linux Mint 22.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• While we’ll guide you through the process, a basic understanding of the command line will be beneficial. If you’re new to the CLI, you might want to acquaint yourself with some fundamental commands.
• An active internet connection.
• To install software on Linux Mint, you need to have administrative (sudo) privileges. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions before starting the installation process.

Install Rust on Linux Mint 22

Step 1. Update Your Linux Mint System.

Before installing any new software, it’s crucial to update your system’s package list. This ensures you have the latest information about available packages and their versions. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The sudo apt update command refreshes the package list, fetching information about the latest available versions of the packages. The sudo apt upgrade command upgrades the installed packages to their latest versions. It is recommended to run these commands regularly to keep your system up to date.

Step 2. Installing Rust Using Rustup.

Rustup is the recommended tool for installing Rust on Linux systems. It simplifies the installation process and provides an easy way to manage multiple Rust versions. To install Rust using Rustup, open your terminal and run the following command:

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

This command downloads the Rustup installation script and executes it. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation. When prompted, choose the default installation option, which includes the Rust compiler and Cargo, Rust’s package manager, and the build system.

Once the installation is complete, Rustup will display a success message, indicating that Rust has been installed on your Linux Mint 22 system.

Step 3. Configure the Rust Environment.

After installing Rust, it’s essential to configure the environment variables to ensure that the Rust toolchain is accessible from the command line. To do this, run the following command in your terminal:

source $HOME/.cargo/env

This command sets up the necessary environment variables by sourcing the env file located in the ~/.cargo directory. It adds the Rust binary directory to your system’s PATH, allowing you to run Rust commands from anywhere in the terminal.

To make these changes permanent, the Rustup installer automatically modifies your ~/.profile file to include the necessary environment variables. This ensures that the Rust environment is set up correctly each time you open a new terminal session.

Step 4. Verify Rust Installation.

To verify that Rust has been installed successfully on your Linux Mint 22 system, open a new terminal window and run the following command:

rustc --version

If the installation was successful, you should see the version number of the installed Rust compiler. For example:

rustc 1.55.0 (c8dfcfe04 2021-09-06)

If you encounter any issues or the command doesn’t display the Rust version, double-check that you have followed the installation steps correctly and that the environment variables are set up properly.

Step 5. Update Rust Toolchain.

Rust is actively developed, and new versions are released regularly with performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features. To ensure that you have the latest stable version of Rust installed, you can use Rustup to update your Rust toolchain. Run the following command in your terminal:

rustup update

Rustup will check for available updates and download and install them automatically. This command updates all the installed Rust toolchains to their latest versions, ensuring that you have access to the most recent improvements and security fixes.

Step 6. Create a Simple Rust Program.

Now that you have Rust installed on your Linux Mint 22 system, let’s create a simple “Hello, World!” program to test the installation. Open your favorite text editor and create a new file named hello.rs. Add the following code to the file:

fn main() {
    println!("Hello, World!");
}

This code defines the main function, which is the entry point of the Rust program. The println! macro is used to print the string “Hello, World!” to the console.

Save the file and open a terminal in the same directory. To compile the Rust program, run the following command:

rustc hello.rs

This command compiles the hello.rs file and generates an executable named hello. To run the program, use the following command:

./hello

You should see the output “Hello, World!” printed in the terminal. Congratulations! You have successfully compiled and run your first Rust program on Linux Mint 22.

Step 7. Create a New Project with Cargo.

While you can compile and run Rust programs using the rustc compiler directly, it’s more convenient to use Cargo, Rust’s package manager and build system. Cargo simplifies the process of creating, building, and managing Rust projects.

To create a new Rust project using Cargo, open your terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to create the project. Run the following command:

cargo new myproject

This command creates a new directory named myproject with the following structure:

myproject/
├── Cargo.toml
└── src/
    └── main.rs

The Cargo.toml file is the manifest file for your Rust project, where you specify dependencies and other project metadata. The src directory contains the source code files, with main.rs being the entry point of your program.

To build and run the project, navigate into the myproject directory and run the following command:

cargo run

Cargo will compile your project and its dependencies, and then run the resulting executable. You should see the output “Hello, world!” in the terminal.

Using Cargo provides several benefits, such as automatic dependency management, easy project organization, and the ability to build and run your project with a single command.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Rust. Thanks for using this tutorial to install the latest version of the Rust programming language on the Linux Mint system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Rust website.