Rust in Action cover

Rust in Action

Rating 4.3
Word count
291K words
Chapters
21
ISBN
9787115591395

Tags

Summary

This book introduces the Rust programming language by exploring a range of systems programming concepts and techniques. While delving into how computers work, it helps readers understand Rust's ownership system, traits, package management, error handling, conditional compilation, and other concepts, and uses real-world examples to illustrate Rust's memory model, file operations, multithreading, network programming, and more. The book aims to help readers understand how to do systems programming in Rust and offers tips for writing Rust code. It presents more than 10 real-world examples so that readers can learn not only Rust syntax but also how Rust is used in practice.

This book is suitable for anyone interested in Rust. To get the most out of it, readers should have some programming experience and at least a basic understanding of computer programming concepts.

Editor's review

Rust in Action is not just another introductory book on Rust syntax. Tim McNamara, an experienced Rust evangelist and practitioner, writes with a core aim: to move readers quickly from “knowing Rust” to “using Rust to solve real problems.” The book’s most distinctive feature is its strongly practice-oriented approach, carefully building eight complete projects spanning web backends, data processing, embedded development, and more. Readers do not study isolated syntax points; they build, one after another, runnable and meaningful applications that simulate real work scenarios. This “learning by doing” approach effectively bridges the gap for beginners between knowing “what it is” and understanding “how to use it.”

The book’s explanations of core Rust concepts such as ownership, lifetimes, and the concurrency model are tightly tied to project requirements, avoiding the vagueness of abstract theoretical discussion. While implementing specific features, readers directly experience how these unique designs ensure memory safety and thread safety, and the shift in programming mindset they bring. This context-based explanation is far more profound than isolated conceptual exposition.

For developers who already know other systems-level languages (such as C/C++) and are looking for a modern alternative, or for engineers interested in developing high-performance, highly reliable backend services, this book offers an excellent entry path. It does not shy away from Rust’s steep learning curve; instead, it uses a gentle slope paved with concrete projects to guide readers upward step by step. Its depth of content and organization reflect the author’s deep understanding of the Rust ecosystem and engineering practice. It is an excellent practical guide that can truly lead readers to “get hands-on” and “put Rust to use.”

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Developers with a foundation in at least one programming language who want to systematically learn Rust and use it in real project development
  • Engineers seeking to move from languages such as C/C++ to a modern, safe systems-level language
  • Backend developers interested in building high-performance, highly reliable network services or system tools
  • Students or researchers in computer-related fields who want to deepen their understanding of systems programming and memory safety models through practical projects

Not a good fit for

  • Absolute beginners with no programming background, who are advised to first grasp basic programming concepts
  • Readers who only want a quick overview of Rust syntax and do not plan to invest time in project practice

Reading tips

  1. Follow the chapters in order, type in and complete each project’s code yourself, and understand its design intent
  2. Before reading each project, briefly review the chapters covering the core concepts involved, and approach the practice with questions in mind
  3. Make full use of the “exercises” sections, which are key to consolidating knowledge and exploring further possibilities

About the publisher

Posts & Telecom Press China · Founded in 1953

Posts & Telecom Press is known for its strengths in science and technology, computing, and information and communications titles, and has extended its publishing into photography, art, software learning, and inspirational growth, giving it a fairly diverse range. Its catalog includes computing and communications works such as Refactoring and Patterns (Revised Edition) and Huawei Switch Learning Guide (Second Edition), alongside bilingual collector's editions such as The Little Prince (Chinese-English-French illustrated collector's edition), The Great Gatsby, and Three Days to See. Beijing Ten Years: 1980-1990 and Ghost Blade: WLOP Personal Illustration Collection reflect its presence in photography and art. Its authors include Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Helen Keller, Joshua Kerievsky, Wang Da, Zhang Zhaozeng, and WLOP.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 版权声明
  3. 内容提要
  4. 致谢
  5. 序
  6. 前言
  7. 关于封面人物
  8. 第一部分 Rust语言的特色
  9. 第1章 Rust语言介绍
  10. 第2章 Rust语言基础
  11. 第3章 复合数据类型
  12. 第4章 生命周期、所有权和借用
  13. 第二部分 揭开系统编程的神秘面纱
  14. 第5章 深入理解数据
  15. 第6章 内存
  16. 第7章 文件与存储
  17. 第8章 网络
  18. 第9章 时间与时间保持
  19. 第10章 进程、线程和容器
  20. 第11章 内核
  21. 第12章 信号、中断和异常

FAQ

How is this book different from The Rust Programming Language?
The two are complementary. The Rust Programming Language is the authoritative official guide, covering the language itself comprehensively and in depth, and is suitable as a reference for systematic study. Rust in Action focuses on “use,” driving learning through a series of connected projects and emphasizing how to apply Rust features to solve various practical problems. It is suitable for rapidly improving engineering skills after learning the basics.
How much programming background do I need to study this book?
You need basic programming thinking and familiarity with general concepts such as variables, functions, and control flow. Familiarity with any mainstream programming language (such as Python, Java, C/C++, or Go) will help you understand faster. The book provides necessary groundwork in the computer fundamentals required by the projects (such as networking and the command line), but it is not a zero-start tutorial.
What level can I reach after completing all the projects in the book?
You will be able to independently design and develop moderately complex applications in Rust, covering common scenarios such as web APIs, command-line tools, and data processing. You will deeply understand core ideas such as ownership, the type system, and error handling, and be able to apply them consciously in real coding, giving you a foundation for further exploration of more specialized areas such as asynchronous programming, embedded development, and Wasm.

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About the author

Tim McNamara is a technical author whose book Rust in Action is classified under programming and design. Public information about his nationality, educational background, professional career, and awards is limited, so this profile does not speculate on those points. Judging from the available work, he focuses on the practical application of the Rust programming language and writes for developers who wish to master it, emphasizing engineering practice rather than abstract theory. This hands-on approach helps readers connect language features with problems encountered in real projects, making the book useful to both beginners and developers switching to Rust. Although only one of his works is currently held in the collection, the book has gained some recognition among Chinese technical readers and can serve as an introductory guide to applied Rust development.

金伟 Author

Jin Wei is an author with two works listed in the catalog, but little of his personal information is publicly available: his dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and professional identity are not clearly recorded. Judging from the subjects of his works, his writing spans two fields—programming technology and financial management. On the one hand, he is the author of Rust in Action, which addresses the practical application of the systems programming language; on the other, he has written Research on Hybrid Financing Decisions and Risk Management in Supply Chains, which focuses on financing decisions and risk control in supply chain finance. This cross-disciplinary path suggests that the author is able to handle both technical, hands-on content and issues of business operations and financial management. In the common categories, his works are classified under programming design and finance respectively, which readers can use to find them as needed. Because information about his personal background is scarce, further inferences about his experience are not appropriate at present, and the works themselves are recommended as the main way to learn about the author.

唐刚 Author

Tang Gang is a Chinese author whose works span a notably wide range of subjects. Public information about him is limited, and three of his works are currently included in the collection, covering programming and design, classical poetry, and modern poetry. Rust in Action shows his interest in the practice of programming, taking the systems-level language Rust as its subject for readers who wish to master its practical use. The Last Pure Land and The Back View of Autumn, meanwhile, show that his writing also extends into literary creation, the former classified as classical poetry and the latter as modern poetry. This combination of technical writing and poetic composition gives his work a character in which the rational and the lyrical coexist. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and personal history cannot be confirmed, no speculation is offered here; this note merely indicates, on the basis of the works at hand, the general directions his writing covers, for readers' reference.

张汉东 Author

Zhang Handong is a Chinese technical author. Publicly available information about him is limited, and his full biography, educational background, and professional experience cannot be confirmed. One work by him is included in the collection, Rust in Action, which is commonly classified under programming and design. Judging from the subject matter, the author focuses on the practical application of Rust, a systems programming language, covering language features, engineering practices, and project development for developers who wish to deepen their mastery of Rust. Writing of this kind tends to be example-driven and hands-on, combining syntax knowledge with real coding scenarios to help readers understand core concepts such as ownership, the type system, and concurrency. Given the limited material, his writing style and industry influence cannot yet be fully assessed, but he can be regarded as one of the practice-oriented authors in Chinese-language Rust learning resources.

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