May 3, 2024

Best Rust IDEs and Code Editors

Rust as a traditional programming language might be difficult to learn and code, but, with the best IDE for Rust, you can easily pass the hurdles of developing Rust Code.

This article lets you find which IDE is best for Rust. It also gives you details on the best Rust IDE for Windows and the best Rust IDE for Mac.

10 Best Rust IDEs and Code Editors – Overview

Here’s an overview of the 10 best Rust IDEs and Code Editors:

S.No.	IDE Name	License Type	Platform Compatibility	Version Control Integration	Download Link
1	Visual Studio Code	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
2	IntelliJ IDEA	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
3	Atom	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
4	CLion	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
5	Eclipse	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
6	Visual Studio	Free/Paid	Windows	Yes	Download
7	Replit IDE	Free/Paid	Web-based	Yes	Download
8	Spacemacs	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
9	Sublime Text	Free trial/Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
10	GNU Emacs	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download

Top 10 Rust IDEs for Developers

Below are the top 10 Rust IDEs for developers:

1. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight but powerful source code editor developed by Microsoft.

It offers students a flexible coding environment with support for debugging, task running, and version control, helping them to write cleaner and more efficient code.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
Rust
PHP
C++
C#
Java
Go
Ruby

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Clean, user-friendly interface
Customizable layout and themes

Customization Options:

Extensive library of extensions
Themes and icon packs
Configurable settings for personalized coding experience

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Color-coded syntax highlighting
Bracket matching and visual indentation guides

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

In-line debugging
Conditional breakpoints
Call stack navigation

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Large and active community
Extensive documentation and forums

Download Now

2. IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a comprehensive IDE from JetBrains, optimized for Rust with the IntelliJ Rust plugin.

It offers students advanced code navigation and refactoring tools designed to improve productivity and code quality.

License Type: Paid (Free Community Edition available)

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with plugin)
Java
Kotlin
Scala
Groovy
Java

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Intuitive, well-organized interface
Responsive and supports high-resolution displays

Customization Options:

Customizable keymaps and workspace layouts
Theme and font adjustments

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Sophisticated syntax highlighting
Inline type information and error analysis

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Seamless integration with cargo test
Debugging with breakpoints and variable watches
Supports conditional breakpoints

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Large developer community
Professional support from JetBrains

Download Now

3. Atom

Atom is an open-source and highly customizable text editor created by GitHub, enhanced with packages such as ide-rust for Rust language support.

It offers students a flexible and user-friendly interface that supports a wide range of programming activities.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with ide-rust package)
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
Python
PHP

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modern, customizable interface
Supports split editing and multiple panes

Customization Options:

Thousands of open-source packages for extended functionality
Customizable themes and keybindings

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Customizable syntax highlighting for easier code navigation
Visible indent guides and bracket-matching

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Requires additional packages for debugging
Support for breakpoints and inline error messages
Integrates with external debugging tools

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive community-contributed packages and themes
Active community forums and extensive documentation

Download Now

4. CLion

CLion is a powerful Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from JetBrains that supports Rust through its official plugin.

It provides students with sophisticated debugging tools and intelligent coding assistance, enhancing both learning and development efficiency.

License Type: Paid (Free for students with educational licenses)

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with official plugin)
C
C++
Python (with plugin)
Kotlin (with plugin)

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Sleek, user-friendly interface
Customizable editor layout and tool-windows

Customization Options:

Extensive plugin ecosystem for adding functionality
Customizable themes and editor schemes

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting for better code readability
Code analysis with quick fixes

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Integrated debugger for Rust, C, and C++
Conditional breakpoints, expression evaluation
Memory and performance profiling tools

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Strong community presence with active forums
Professional support and regular updates from JetBrains

Download Now

5. Eclipse

Eclipse IDE is a well-established, versatile development environment that supports Rust through the use of various plugins like “RustDT” or “Corrosion”.

It offers students an open-source platform with robust tools for complex projects and language integrations.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with plugins like Corrosion)
Java
C/C++
Python
PHP
JavaScript

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Flexible and customizable interface
Multi-view and multi-language editing support

Customization Options:

Extensive marketplace of plugins and add-ons
Fully customizable themes and layouts

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Configurable syntax highlighting for improved code clarity
Real-time syntax checking and error visualization

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Powerful debugging with support for remote debugging
Integrated console for output and command execution
Stack trace analysis and variable inspection

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Large, active community contributing to a vast range of plugins
Extensive documentation and user forums

Download Now

6. Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a feature-rich Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

This setup provides students with a robust development environment renowned for its powerful debugging tools and extensive integration capabilities.

License Type: Free (Community Edition) / Paid (Professional and Enterprise Editions)

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with extensions)
C#
C++
JavaScript
Python
Visual Basic
F#

Platform Compatibility:

Windows

User Interface and Experience:

Highly customizable, feature-rich interface
Integrated support for both dark and light themes

Customization Options:

A wide range of extensions is available through Visual Studio Marketplace
Customizable code snippets, key bindings, and UI elements

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting tailored to various programming languages
Visual aids for code structure and navigation

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Sophisticated debugging tools, including conditional breakpoints and live code analysis
Visual debugging tools for memory and performance profiling
Integrated testing tools to automate unit and integration tests

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive support through official Microsoft documentation and community forums
Regular updates and enhancements from Microsoft

Download Now

7. Replit IDE

Replit IDE is an online integrated development environment that supports collaborative coding directly in a web browser.

It’s particularly beneficial for students as it simplifies setup processes and allows for instant sharing and live collaboration on code projects across multiple programming languages.

License Type: Free (Basic features) / Paid (Hacker plan for additional features)

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust
Python
JavaScript
HTML/CSS
Java
C++

Platform Compatibility:

Web-based (accessible on any device with a web browser)

User Interface and Experience:

Simple, clean interface ideal for beginners and educational purposes
Real-time collaboration features with multi-user live editing

Customization Options:

Theme customization (dark and light mode)
Configurable editor settings like font size and key bindings

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Automatic syntax highlighting for numerous programming languages
Code folding and bracket matching for easier code navigation

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Basic debugging tools with breakpoints and console output
Integrated error logs and real-time linting

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Active community forums and extensive documentation
Regular educational challenges and tutorials

Download Now

8. Spacemacs

Spacemacs is a community-driven Emacs distribution that combines the simplicity of Emacs and the efficiency of Vim.

It’s highly customizable and supports Rust through layers that integrate existing Emacs and Vim packages.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with Rust layer)
Python
JavaScript
C/C++
Java

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modal interface, blending Vim and Emacs features
Highly keyboard-centric, suitable for efficient code navigation and editing

Customization Options:

Extensive customization through layers and configuration files
User-configurable key bindings and commands

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Robust syntax highlighting adaptable to various languages and themes
Code folding and structured display for better code management

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Debugger integration available through specific layers
Supports external debugging tools depending on configuration

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

A strong and active community providing support through forums and chat channels
Extensive documentation available online

Download Now

9. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a popular, lightweight code editor known for its speed, ease of use, and flexibility.

It supports Rust development through various plugins and extensions, making it a favorite among students for its simplicity and powerful performance.

License Type: Free trial / Paid for continued use

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with plugins like Rust Enhanced)
Python
JavaScript
HTML/CSS
PHP
Java
C++

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Minimalistic, distraction-free interface
Extremely fast and responsive, even with large files

Customization Options:

Highly customizable with a wide range of plugins available via Package Control
Themeable with various color schemes

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting customizable for different languages
Visual guidelines for indentation and bracket matching

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Limited native debugging tools
Require additional plugins for enhanced functionality

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Large user base with an active community forum
Extensive plugin ecosystem supported by the community

Download Now

10. GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor with a powerful ecosystem. It’s especially popular among developers who prefer a highly configurable environment.

Emacs can be enhanced with various packages to support Rust programming, offering a deep level of customization.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

Rust (with packages like rust-mode and cargo.el)
C/C++
Python
JavaScript
Java
Lisp (and its variants)

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

The highly customizable interface can be entirely driven by the keyboard
Text-based but supports GUI elements through the Emacs window system

Customization Options:

Nearly limitless customization via Emacs Lisp
An extensive set of plugins available for virtually any development need

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Customizable syntax highlighting for various programming languages
Supports features like code folding, and project navigation.

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Integrates with various debuggers (like GDB) through specific packages
Support for interactive code evaluation and REPLs for some languages

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive and knowledgeable community
Comprehensive online documentation and a multitude of tutorials and guides

Download Now

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some of the best free Rust IDEs and code editors available?

Some of the best free Rust IDEs and code editors available:

Visual Studio Code with the Rust plugin
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition with the Rust plugin
Atom with the Rust language package

2. What are the key features to look for in the best Rust IDEs and code editors?

The key features to look for in the best Rust IDEs and code editors are syntax highlighting, code completion, powerful debugging tools, and integration with cargo, Rust’s package manager.

3. What is the key difference between Rust IDE and Code Editor?

The key difference between Rust IDE and Code Editor is that a Rust IDE offers comprehensive development tools like build automation, debugging, and dependency management, while a code editor is lighter, focusing on code editing and syntax highlighting.]

4. Which Rust IDEs have strong community support and reliable customer service?

IntelliJ IDEA and Visual Studio Code have strong community support and reliable customer service.

5. What tools are available in Rust IDEs for debugging code?

Tools available in Rust IDEs for debugging code include graphical debuggers, console-based debuggers like GDB or LLDB integration, and inline error displays.

6. What Rust IDEs have the best integration with version control systems like Git?

Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA have the best integration with version control systems like Git.

Wrapping Up

With all these options available, choose the best and most efficient IDE that can help you in the development and as well as in debugging of the code.

Make a strategic choice of the tool, so that it remains your coding companion forever!

Explore More Rust Resources

Explore More IDEs

Aarthy R s

Aarthy is an passionate technical writer with experience across various domains such as web development, Web 3.0, AI, ML, technical documentation for product development, software testing, and, course content development. She has won over 6 national-level technical hackathons and blogathons.