What is Rust and where it runs

What Rust is

Rust is a compiled programming language focused on safety and speed.

The compiler checks memory use at build time, so many bugs are caught before the program ever runs.

Every example in this course follows the same shape: a main function that prints one line.

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

Where Rust runs

Rust runs on common desktop and server systems such as Linux, macOS, and Windows.

One codebase can produce a native binary for each target, so deployment is often a single file with no extra runtime to install.

That makes Rust practical for tools that must start fast and run with small memory use.

Memory safety without garbage collection

Rust gives memory safety without a garbage collector.

Ownership and borrowing rules let the compiler prove that each value has one clear owner and that references stay valid.

The result is fast code that avoids data races and use after free errors without pauses for collection.

Systems, web, embedded

Typical domains include systems tools, command line utilities, network services, embedded firmware, and browser modules built with WebAssembly.

Beginners meet the same core ideas in every domain: strict types, explicit handling of missing values, and clear error messages from the compiler.

Next: Install Rust

Article author: Arthur Isaev