For over 20 years, JetBrains has carved out a reputation for building some of the most versatile and powerful integrated development environments (IDE) on the market. From Java to Python and even niche languages like Kotlin and Scala – JetBrains IDEs are beloved by developers across enterprises and startups worldwide.
However, as Rust continues its meteoric rise, JetBrains realized the need for an IDE tailored specifically for Rust‘s unique capabilities and growing community.
The Meteoric Rise of Rust in Software Development
Initially released in 2010, Rust finally hit 1.0 in 2015 after years of iterative design powered by a thriving open-source community. Since then, it has rapidly gained adoption across various industries:
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Web Services: Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta and even smaller startups use Rust to build cloud APIs and backend services. Its memory safety and fearless concurrency make Rust well-suited for building robust web-scale infrastructure.
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Embedded Devices: From drones to robotics and even IoT appliances, Rust‘s performance and low resource utilization allows crafting stripped-down microcontrollers capable of real-time signal processing without garbage collection delays.
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Financial Technology: Fintech firms rely on Rust‘s stability for handling sensitive transactions and analysis. Even decentralized ecosystems employ Rust – the world‘s largest crypto exchange Binance makes extensive use of Rust.
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Gaming: AAA studios like Epic Games are switching to Rust for crafting immersive graphics, physics and gameplay thanks to wide hardware support and easier cross-platform builds.
Rust was also named the most loved programming language for seven years straight based on StackOverflow‘s massive developer survey.
However, Rust‘s advanced compiler also means developers need smarter tooling. JetBrains realized that enhancing existing IDEs with Rust plugins was insufficient. Developers need a dedicated Rust IDE purpose-built from ground up.
And so RustRover was born!
How RustRover Complements JetBrains‘ Product Portfolio
RustRover fills an important gap in JetBrains‘ market leading range of IDEs. While their Goland, CLion and other IDEs support Rust to some extent, they cater more towards their primary languages.
RustRover allows JetBrains to offer an IDE customized specifically for idiomatic Rust workflows – smarter editors, advanced project management, built-in diagnostics capabilities and tight integrations with the crates ecosystem.
It complements Fleet – JetBrains‘ relatively newer IDE tailored specifically for large-scale Go development.
Just like Fleet streamlines building robust enterprise Go services, RustRover frees developers from IDE limitations allowing them to fully leverage Rust‘s cutting edge capabilities.
Refactoring, Intellisense and Other Coding Superpowers
Let‘s do a deeper dive into RustRover‘s capabilities that enhance developer productivity.
Uproot Bad Code with Advanced Refactors
RustRover understands code structure at a granular level thanks to deep compiler integration. This allows identifying outdated conventions or insecure practices accurately across your entire codebase.
Complex, multi-step refactors that would break your program otherwise now execute flawlessly. Automatically migrating to newer editions, replacing unsafe legacy crates or introducing design patterns are done safely in a click.
Combined with a full undo history and git integration, you can fearlessly improve architecture knowing RustRover has your back.
Autocompletions That Read Your Mind
Forget wrestling with documentation and definitions mid-coding. RustRover‘s rich Intellisense coupled with semantic code analysis surfaces contextually relevant suggestions as you code.
Whether you are looking for that just right function from a crate or even a field deep in your structs – start typing and RustRover will complete it instantaneously cutting down key strokes. Except now you discover handy APIs without breaking flow.
RustRover even recommends parameters tailored to your usage scenario. Code faster, discover more and stay immersed keyboard-first thanks to the future-ready semantic engine.
Fixing Bugs Before They Exist
Easily RustRover‘s most unique capability is real-time code analysis. Any flaws in logic, unhandled edge cases or even deprecated conventions will be flagged right in your editor.
Except now you also get a single click fix to remedy those issues instantly!
Whether a long-forgotten unwrap, numerics near overflow or even injection-prone input handling – identify problems earlier with RustRover‘s assistance. Custom inspections tailored for security, performance and robustness help build resilient Rust programs.
Series of Fortunate Debugging Events
Of course even Rust isn‘t fully shielded from good old logic bugs. RustRover streamlines nasty debugging sessions via:
First Class GDB/LLDB Integration
- Set granular breakpoints across modules, jump between call frames and evaluate complex expressions with ease.
- Visualize values alongside your code as they change through statement execution. No more jumping between disparate panes while debugging!
Diagnose Performance Hotspots
- Quickly inspect which functions or processing segments consume excessive compute resources via integrated profiling.
- Guide optimization efforts by understanding realistic usage data.
Fix, Build, Run and Repeat
- Tweak your program‘s logic and data structures then instantly view updated output without recompiling.
- The edit-debug cycle becomes a breeze allowing quick experimentation powered by RustRover‘s build pipeline integration.
Building the Future of Rust Apps
While RustRover enhances Rust workflows immensely, its true power lies in simplifying end-to-end application building leveraging Rust‘s wider ecosystem.
Power Up Web Assembly for Blazing UIs
- Integrate Rust and JavaScript seamlessly via frameworks like Yew, Seed and Percy for crafting lightning fast web UIs.
- Build performant clients running natively in browsers while still using Rust for business logic.
Set Sail for Native Greatness with Tauri
- Construct cross-platform desktop apps with Tauri harnessing Rust for CPU intensive operations while keeping a HTML/CSS powered UI. Edit everything within RustRover.
Cutting Edge Gaming with Bevy
- Craft immersive 2D and 3D gaming experiences using RustRover‘s custom Bevy project templates and integrations.
End to End App Infrastructure
- Model SQL and NoSQL data stores directly within the IDE to simplify struct design and data migrations.
- Build containerized services on Kubernetes accessible via automatically generated API clients.
- Setup observability, security, networking and deployment configs without context switching.
RustRover frees you to focus on app functionality while it handles the tooling and infrastructure.
RustRover‘s Technical Chops
Under the hood, RustRover is architected to meet demands of modern Rust development initiatives.
Always Evolving Platform
- Frequent updates ensure you benefit from latest Rust editions, emerging crate ecosystems, paradigm shifts and security advances.
- Get rock solid stability and performance honed over decades of IDE refinement while retaining Rust focused enhancements.
Extensible Architecture
- Plug into continuous integration systems, browsers for web development, profilers and almost every other external tool work with RustRover‘s adaptable architecture.
Official Backing from JetBrains
- Enjoy enterprise grade support services and expert assistance available directly from pioneers in IDE engineering.
RustRover‘s foundations power key advantages like smooth workflows, developer joy and sheer versatility.
How Leading Developers View RustRover
We asked prominent members across Rust communities about their thoughts on RustRover and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Purpose built for Rust with JetBrains polish. I‘m sold!"
- Nicolas Silva – Core team member, RustAnalyzer
"This is the IDE we have been waiting for to improve the state of Rust tooling all around"
- Jane Lusby – Runtime team member, Rust Foundation
"I‘m incredibly impressed with the progress made in just the early previews! This might finally be the IDE to recommend to newcomers instead of Vim or VSCode"
- Aisha Blake – Director of community team, Rust Foundation
Choosing the Right IDE for Your Rust Project
We compared popular Rust IDE options across various criteria vital for delighted developer experiences. Unsurprisingly, RustRover leads in many areas as seen below:
| IDE | Refactoring | Debugging | Container Mgmt | Supported Frameworks | Customizability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RustRover | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| IntelliJ + Plugin | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Visual Studio Code | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| CLion | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Vim/Emacs | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
RustRover clearly outpaces competition with smarter assistance, built-in devops capabilities and unmatched customizability.
Road Ahead – What the Future Holds
RustRover has an exciting roadmap planned with cutting edge capabilities on the horizon.
Here is a sneak peek at some upcoming highlights:
- Tighter GitHub collaboration enhancing commits, PR reviews and issue tracking
- Embedded devices support through GDBStub integration
- Enhanced WASM workflows and debugging
- Apple silicon and Windows ARM support
- Multi-cursor and multi-selection refactors
- CLI access to workflows right from terminal
- Project templating for popular web frameworks
Be sure to watch this space as RustRover continues pushing Rust IDE tooling to the next level!
Conclusion
RustRover delivers efficiency, joy and stability to developers through:
✅ Intelligent coding assistance
✅ Integrated devops and debugging
✅ Multi-paradigm Rust project support
✅ Extensive customization options
With Rust already being the most loved language for several years straight, RustRover finally gives the ecosystem an equally loved development environment!
So try out RustRover today and let us know your experiences in the comments below. Because if you are bowling serious Rust code, you want RustRover in your developer toolbox!
