So I’ve been a JS dev for 3 years and thinking about learning Rust.
Everyone says Rust is the future and that it makes you a better programmer. But is it actually worth the time investment?
My goals:
- Become a better developer overall
- Maybe build some CLI tools or side projects
- Not planning to switch careers or work in systems programming
Is the learning curve worth it for someone like me? Or should I just stick with JS/TypeScript?
As someone who made this exact switch last year, here’s my take:
Yes, it’s worth it! But maybe not for the reasons you think.
Rust won’t directly make you a better JS dev. But it will teach you about memory management, systems thinking, and writing efficient code.
My path: I learned Rust by building small CLI tools, not by reading the book cover to cover. That’s way more fun!
If you want to try it, I’d suggest: The Rust Book + Rust by Example, then just start building something small.
Worst case: you learn something new. Best case: you unlock a whole new way of thinking. Win-win! 🎉