Module System and Build Tools

📖 Learning Objectives

Understand Rust's module system and its package manager, Cargo. Learn how to organize a Rust project structure and understand the differences from JavaScript's module system.

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🎯 Module System Comparison

JavaScript's Module System

JavaScript uses the ES6 module syntax:

Rust's Module System

Rust uses the mod and use keywords to manage modules:

Module System Differences

1. File Organization: Rust uses mod to declare modules, while JavaScript uses file paths.
2. Visibility: Rust requires explicit pub declarations to make functions and structs public.
3. Import Syntax: Rust uses the use keyword, while JavaScript uses import.
4. Default Exports: Rust does not have a concept of default exports; everything must be imported explicitly.

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📦 Package Management System Comparison

JavaScript's npm

Rust's Cargo

Package Management Differences

1. Configuration File: npm uses package.json, while Cargo uses Cargo.toml.
2. Dependency Management: Cargo's dependency management is stricter and handles version conflicts better.
3. Build Tool: Cargo integrates build, test, documentation generation, and other functions.
4. Feature System: Rust supports conditional compilation and feature flags.