If you’re looking for a modern programming language that doesn’t sacrifice speed for security, then Rust is the language for you. Launched in 2015, this new kid on the block brings the perfect blend of power and safety when it comes to programming.
In programming, languages are either built for power or safety, similar to offensive and defensive players in sports. Offensive players, like safety languages, are typically slower, but they’re strong and prevent unfavorable situations from happening, like the other team from scoring points or errors in your code.
- See also: our guide to the best Go courses.
On the flip side, defensive players, or powerful languages, are fast and have access to the field, giving them better control over the entire system, but they lack security and protection.
So, we have a powerful language, like C/C++, and a safety language, like Java, and you either work with one or the other. But what if you could have both? This is where Rust comes in and dominates the scene.
What is Rust?
Rust is an open-source systems programming language that focuses on speed, memory safety, and parallelism, which means it’s free, safe, and strong. It’s known for solving problems C/C++ programmers face, as you’ll notice many of the course creators specialize in these.
Rust is incredibly versatile and is used in game engines, virtual reality, web development, and operating systems. Whether you’re a professional programmer, a creative, or a hobbyist, learning Rust can benefit you on a range of projects.
If you’re interested in finding out the best way to learn Rust, then you’ve come to the right place. Join us as we go through our favorite online Rust classes (and even some extras) and rank them based on course syllabi, structure, and price, and help you find the right one!
How to Choose the Best Online Rust Course?
Like with all online learning courses, it’s important to find something that’s engaging as well as informative, and that’s why we suggest looking for an interactive course.
Learning by doing not only makes the lessons more engaging, but it helps you learn better! It’s a foolproof way for you to interact with the code and conceptualize the information taught in the lessons.
Not to mention, having practical experience molds hard skills employers are looking for and that are necessary for working on personal projects. However, we know preferences change, so if you prefer learning offline or through lectures, then don’t worry! We have options for you too.
1. Rust Programming for Beginners by Udemy — best Rust Course (For Beginners)
Pros
- Ideal for beginners
- Most extensive range of topics
Cons
- Longest course, taking nearly 20 hours to complete
To start us off, we have the Udemy favorite, Rust Programming Language for Beginners, that’s actually for beginners, as it does not require you to know a language before taking it.
It was created by Tim Buchalka’s Learn Programming Academy and Diwakar Singh, two professional programmers. Buchalka’s Learn Programming Academy has helped millions of students learn programs like Java, Python, and C/C++, and all the courses are available on Udemy.
This Rust class is composed of 192 lectures in 21 sections, and requires at least 19.5 hours of study time. The number of lectures may be jarring, but that’s what makes it the best Rust class for beginners. It provides that in-depth foundation necessary for beginners to build from.
Once you follow the tutorial on how to install Rust on your computer, you jump into loops, functions, ownership and move up to error handling, testing, closures, and smart pointer. You’ll also build fluency using Rust modules, and learn how to create and implement your own Rust libraries throughout this course.
It’s $49.99 for the class, but Udemy is famous for its sales, so there’s a good chance of getting it for less.
2. Learn Rust by Building Real Applications on Udemy — great Rust course for practical skills
Pros
- Bestseller on Udemy
- Excellent hands-on practice
Cons
- Not for those who want lectures
As the name suggests, this is a completely practice-based class.
The Learn Rust by Building Real Applications course was developed by Lyubomir Gavadinov, a software engineer and C language programmer — until he fell in love with Rust.
The class consists of 4 sections made up of 61 lectures, and takes roughly 6.5 hours to complete. After a quick theoretical intro to low-level memory management, you start building a memory application, followed by a command-line application that will teach you about functions, macros, ownership, and borrowing.
The last application is the longest, taking 5 hours to complete. Here you’ll build an HTTP server from scratch and learn about modules, advanced error handling, lifetimes, and how to represent query string using a hash map.
It finishes with a short quiz and advice on the next steps to take.
The course costs $69.99, so it’s one of the more expensive options on here, but you get three working applications out of it, as well as basic and advanced Rust training.
It does require knowledge of basic computer science and at least one other programming language, so it’s not for those completely new to the industry, but is perfect for programmers of all skill levels.
3. Ultimate Rust Crash Course – Udemy
Pros
- Highest rated Rust course on Udemy
- Updated recently
Cons
- Not recommended for beginners
This is the fastest way to learn Rust, ringing in at 3 hours in length for the whole class.
The Ultimate Rust Crash Course is the highest-rated Rust course on the site, and was written by software and indie game developer Nathan Stocks. Stocks does away with fluff, and gives you a streamlined way to learn Rust.
It does require basic knowledge of any programming language, like Python, C or C++, and it is fast-paced, so new coders should opt for a beginner Rust course instead.
You start with the normal fundamentals – variables, functions, scope, modules – and then quickly move on to learning ownership and closures. In the end, there’s a final project where you put your knowledge to the test by creating an invaders game by building character, weaponry, and invading modules.
The charming gameplay ending not only adds a nice touch of practice to the course, but makes it fun for experienced professionals.
For $49.99, you’ll get lifetime access to the course and a completion certificate, and like the other Udemy courses, keep your eyes open for sales.
4. Rust Fundamentals by Udemy & Pluralsight — great overall Rust Course
Pros
- Course available on multiple sites
- Opportunity to practice using Rust
Cons
- Pluralsight version is outdated
- Only for programmers with knowledge of C or C++
This course is available on both Udemy and Pluralsight, so if you’re signed up on one, you don’t have to join another.
This course was developed by Dmitri Nesteruk. Nesteruk is a software developer and book and course author that specializes in quantitative finance and algorithmic trading.
While it’s the same course on both sites, there is some slight variation, the most obvious being pricing. On Udemy, the course costs a one-time payment of $74.99, and on Pluralsight, subscriptions start at $399 a year.
The Udemy Rust Programming Language class is an 8.5-hour program comprised of 12 sections and 61 pre-recorded lectures.
Prerequisites for the course include basic knowledge of computer science, as well as either C or C++ languages.
Start by downloading and installing outside software for practice problem-solving in Rust. You’ll learn core fundamentals like variables, data structure, functions, and even cover more advanced topics like circular references.
By the end, you should feel comfortable sharing data, using Cargo data management, handling conditional compilation, and testing, all in Rust.
The Pluralsight Rust Fundamentals is the same, except for a few differences.
This version only lasts 4 hours and 37 minutes, so half the time of the Udemy version. But, you still learn the same basic and advanced topics, like data structures, control flow, and lifetime.
The only concerning difference between the two is Pluralsight’s last update.
Pluralsight was last updated in 2016, while Udemy was updated in 2020. Being behind five years in technology could mean missing out on serious changes and learning outdated practices and functions.
That said, if you use Pluralsight it’s included in your subscription, and you won’t lose money on the course.
5. Rust Programming Language: The Complete Course – Udemy & Skillshare Rust Course
Pros
- Offered on multiple sites
- Compatible for programmers of any language
Cons
- Doesn’t cover many advanced topics
You might be noticing a trend here, but this Rust course is also offered on two educational sites – Udemy and Skillshare.
This course was created by Abhishek Kumar, a computer scientist at Adobe with an extensive background in machine learning.
Both Rust classes are the same; 58 lectures total and take around 6 hours and 24 minutes to complete. You learn how to download the software required for practice and study ownership principles, data types, error handling, and concurrency.
To take this course, you need a basic knowledge of computer science and an understanding of any programming language. The focus of this Rust class is the basic concepts, so it’s suited for beginners.
On Udemy the course costs $59.99, and on Skillshare, it’s included in the $19 monthly subscription.
Books and Other Fun Helpful Resources
Sometimes, online Rust classes aren’t enough, and outside resources are needed to seal the deal. Books and practice sites provide clarity and examples of confusing topics, as well as crucial coding practice needed to build skills.
If you’re looking to learn from a book rather than one of our recommended rust courses, we recommend Fullstack Rust: The Complete Guide to Building Apps authored by software engineer Andy Weiss. This book teaches you how to develop production-ready apps fast.
Most Rust books teach the language but not how to apply it, and that’s where Fullstack Rust differs. It focuses on building web servers and command-line tools, and it comes in a nice digestible package that will have you eagerly turning pages.
Next, is the fantastic competitive coding website Codewars.
Codewars makes coding exciting by turning it into a friendly competition. You’ll compete against other people in your skill range and see who can solve the “kata” or coding task first. If you win, you’ll progress on to harder katas.
This not only trains your current abilities, but it also develops them by moving you up levels as you win and solve the katas.
To get started, all you have to do is answer a coding question that’s related to your language, and you’re in!
Using just one or both of these resources will have you mastering Rust in no time!