Pros of Reference

• More comprehensive coverage of Rust language features
• Regularly updated with new language additions and changes
• Clearer structure and organization for easier navigation

Cons of Reference

• Less in-depth explanation of low-level implementation details
• Fewer examples of unsafe code and its implications
• More formal tone, which may be less engaging for some readers

Code Comparison

Reference:

fn main() {
    let x: i32 = 5;
    let y: i32 = 10;
    println!("x + y = {}", x + y);
}

Nomicon:

unsafe fn dangerous_function() {
    let raw_ptr: *mut i32 = std::ptr::null_mut();
    *raw_ptr = 42; // Undefined behavior!
}

The Reference provides a basic example of Rust syntax, while the Nomicon demonstrates unsafe code and potential pitfalls.

Summary

Reference is a comprehensive guide to Rust's language features, suitable for most developers. Nomicon focuses on advanced, unsafe Rust programming, offering deeper insights into low-level operations. Choose Reference for general language understanding and Nomicon for exploring Rust's more complex aspects.

Pros of book

• More beginner-friendly, offering a comprehensive introduction to Rust
• Regularly updated with new Rust features and best practices
• Available in multiple formats (online, PDF, print) for easier accessibility

Cons of book

• Less in-depth coverage of advanced topics and unsafe Rust
• May not cover some low-level implementation details

Code comparison

book:

fn main() {
    let x = 5;
    println!("The value of x is: {}", x);
}

nomicon:

unsafe fn dangerous() {
    // Unsafe operations here
}

Summary

The book serves as an excellent starting point for Rust learners, providing a comprehensive overview of the language's features and concepts. It's regularly updated and accessible in various formats.

On the other hand, nomicon delves deeper into advanced topics, particularly unsafe Rust and low-level implementation details. It's more suitable for experienced Rust developers looking to understand the language's internals.

The code examples reflect this difference, with book focusing on basic concepts and nomicon demonstrating unsafe operations. While book is more approachable for beginners, nomicon offers valuable insights for those seeking to master Rust's advanced features and understand its underlying mechanisms.

Pros of Rust by Example

• More beginner-friendly with practical, runnable examples
• Covers a wider range of Rust concepts and features
• Interactive learning experience with editable code snippets

Cons of Rust by Example

• Less in-depth coverage of advanced topics
• May not provide as much theoretical background
• Updates less frequently than Nomicon

Code Comparison

Rust by Example:

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

Nomicon:

unsafe fn dangerous() {
    // ... unsafe operations ...
}

Summary

Rust by Example is an excellent resource for beginners and intermediate Rust developers, offering a hands-on approach to learning the language through practical examples. It covers a wide range of topics and provides an interactive learning experience.

On the other hand, Nomicon delves deeper into advanced Rust concepts, focusing on unsafe Rust and low-level details. It's more suitable for experienced Rust developers who want to understand the language's internals and advanced features.

While Rust by Example provides a broader overview of the language with runnable examples, Nomicon offers a more in-depth exploration of specific advanced topics. The choice between the two depends on the learner's experience level and learning goals.

Pros of rustc-dev-guide

• More comprehensive and detailed documentation for Rust compiler development
• Regularly updated with the latest information on compiler internals
• Includes practical guides for contributing to the Rust compiler project

Cons of rustc-dev-guide

• Focuses primarily on compiler development, less useful for general Rust programming
• May be overwhelming for beginners due to its technical depth
• Lacks some of the low-level language details found in the Nomicon

Code Comparison

rustc-dev-guide example (simplified compiler pass):

fn run_pass<'tcx>(tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>, body: &mut Body<'tcx>) {
    for (bb, block) in body.basic_blocks.iter_enumerated_mut() {
        for statement in block.statements.iter_mut() {
            // Perform pass-specific operations on statements
        }
    }
}

Nomicon example (unsafe code):

let mut num = 5;
let r1 = &num as *const i32;
let r2 = r1 as *mut i32;
unsafe {
    *r2 = 10;
}

The rustc-dev-guide focuses on compiler internals and development processes, while the Nomicon delves into low-level language details and unsafe Rust. The code examples reflect this difference, with rustc-dev-guide showing compiler-specific code and the Nomicon demonstrating unsafe operations.

Pros of rfcs

• Provides a structured process for proposing and discussing language changes
• Offers a historical record of Rust's evolution and decision-making
• Encourages community participation in shaping the language

Cons of rfcs

• Can be overwhelming for newcomers due to the volume of technical discussions
• May not provide immediate, practical guidance for using Rust
• Requires more time to find specific information compared to a curated guide

Code comparison

While rfcs doesn't typically contain code snippets, nomicon often includes examples to illustrate unsafe Rust concepts:

nomicon:

let mut x = 0;
let y = &mut x;
let z = &mut *y;
*z = 1;
println!("{}", x);

rfcs generally contains more prose-based proposals and discussions rather than code examples.

Summary

nomicon serves as a guide for advanced and unsafe Rust programming, while rfcs is a repository for proposing and discussing changes to the Rust language. nomicon provides more direct, practical information for developers, while rfcs offers insight into the language's development process and future directions. Both repositories serve important but distinct purposes in the Rust ecosystem.