Hello,
I am pretty I came across an online book that taught programming/CS to almost complete beginners, using Rust. I think it is a resource from an undergraduate course at an University but cannot remember which one...
Do you know this book, or any resource for "(learning programming) (in rust)" instead of "learning (programming in rust)" ?
Cheers
I don't think there are many good resources for this. Teaching Rust to absolute beginners has been discussed a few times in this forum -- you might find these discussions by using the forum search function. And I think in those threads no really good resources have been mentioned. If it makes much sense to start with Rust as someone fully unfamiliar with computer science and programming, is a controversial topic. Computer science and programming is a lot to learn alone, and with a complex and not too easy language like Rust it is really a lot. Teaching Rust to experienced people takes typically at least 500 pages, and that are only the most basic Rust foundations. Teaching the basics of CS is also a few hundred pages. So both would be a book of 1000 pages, and I have some doubts if many people would have the energy to read such a book if we had one. A short tutorial can not provide that.
Maybe you are interested in the "Easy Rust" online course, or the companion book "Rust in a months of lunches"?. Not that I really recommend that, but you should find them with Google. Another tiny resource is Introduction - Fast Track to Rust -- not that I recommend that, but it has a lot of GitHub stars. And I am sure there are Youtube videos trying to teach Rust to absolute beginners -- they make videos for every thing, now often fake ones generted by AI. Not that I would watch Rust videos -- perhaps the ones from Jon Gjengset are an exception, those are quite good, but for advanced Rust users.
For my Rust book, I listed a few learning resources at Further learning resources - Rust for C-Programmers. If you should find other really good sources, please let us know, I would add them to that page.
I tried several books for studying Rust, but found them too boring. So I started using this forum as a learning resource. It's very responsive and any question gets answered in 15-20 minutes, you can just drink a cup of tea, when you got stuck. And std will be another resource you need to have handy. I assume that you already read book like " Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs". Do not hesitate also ask any question to AI. Any will work just fine.
There was a course posted here but the link is dead.
However, I believe that it was the one that can now be found here:
Yeah, that is the same Aalto University Rust course I followed and linked to earlier. The web site changed a bit because they now have a different version of it for actual students at Aalto. It's a great course on Rust but I'm not sure it suites those who have never programmed before. Perhaps try making a start in it and tell us how you get on.
Thanks for the hint, in my list I had the old, dead link, I will fix that soon.
But from the page, following your new link:
Prerequisites
Basic programming skills. This should include at least operating with functions, conditions, loops and basic data structures. Knowledge about functional programming or object oriented programming is also beneficial.
Yeah, it's not targeted towards total beginners, but I wanted to throw it in here in case OP is interested. Maybe they're a quick study.
It was most likely Easy Rust. The author has another new book: Learn Rust in a Month of Lunches - David MacLeod
Thank you for the replies. I don't recognize the resource that I think I remember, but those are valuable suggestions nevertheless!