Learning Rust as First Programming Language
by Karin Lammers
What is it like to learn Rust as your first programming language? This talk covers the process, motivation, tools and tips & tricks for learning Rust as a total beginner. It is based on the experiences of the speaker, who started with Rust at the end of 2024 with no programming experience.
You will learn about a number of educational resources that were used to shape the learning process, such as the Rust Programming Language Book and Rustlings. This is combined with an evaluation of Rust learning materials. In addition, some generic learning processes that were applied will be discussed, such as developing a growth mindset, the importance of good motivation, building a habit and building a network of supportive people around you. Finally, some pitfalls and successes that have been experienced are shared.
After this talk, you will know how to start learning Rust yourself as a beginner, or how to help a beginner in learning!
Karin Lammers
she/her
Karin Lammers is a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) enthusiast, advocating for better process management in FOSS projects. As a freelancer, she helps FOSS projects with their governance, strategy, documentation and community building. She has a background in education and governance, and is currently learning Rust as her first programming language. She is part of the maintainer team of Ariel OS, a library operating system for secure, memory-safe, low-power Internet of Things, written in Rust. She is also maintainer of RIOT OS and is a member of the Digital Commons Task Force (DCTF), an advisory body of the NGI Commons project.