Native Rust support on Cloudflare Workers

Steve Manuel
3 min readbeginner
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Overview

The article discusses the introduction of native Rust support on Cloudflare Workers, allowing developers to write Workers entirely in Rust without needing JavaScript. It highlights the new `worker` crate that simplifies the development process by providing ergonomic APIs and eliminating boilerplate code.

What You'll Learn

1

How to write Cloudflare Workers using Rust without JavaScript

2

Why Rust is a suitable language for developing on Cloudflare Workers

3

How to use the `worker` crate for building Workers applications

Key Questions Answered

How can developers write Cloudflare Workers in Rust?
Developers can write Cloudflare Workers in Rust by using the new `worker` crate, which allows them to run Rust code inside the V8 WebAssembly engine. This eliminates the need for JavaScript and simplifies the process of accessing Cloudflare APIs.
What are the benefits of using Rust for Cloudflare Workers?
Rust offers first-class support for WebAssembly and a growing ecosystem, making it an ideal choice for Cloudflare Workers. It simplifies the developer experience by reducing boilerplate code and providing ergonomic APIs tailored for the platform.
What features does the `worker` crate provide for Rust developers?
The `worker` crate provides features such as ergonomic HTTP functionality, access to Cloudflare KV stores, Durable Objects, and easy handling of secrets and environment variables, making it easier for developers to build Workers applications in Rust.

Technologies & Tools

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Programming Language
Rust
Used for writing Cloudflare Workers without needing JavaScript.
Runtime
Webassembly
Enables running Rust code in the Cloudflare Workers environment.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Start using the `worker` crate to build your Cloudflare Workers in Rust, which will streamline your development process.
This is particularly useful for developers who prefer Rust over JavaScript and want to leverage the performance benefits of WebAssembly.
2
Explore the open-source nature of the `worker` crate and contribute to its development by providing feedback or submitting pull requests.
Engaging with the community can enhance your understanding of Rust and Cloudflare Workers while helping improve the tools available for all developers.
3
Utilize the ergonomic HTTP framework provided by the `worker` crate to simplify handling requests and responses.
This framework can significantly reduce the amount of boilerplate code you need to write, allowing you to focus on building features.

Common Pitfalls

1
Developers might struggle with the initial setup and understanding of how to integrate Rust with Cloudflare Workers.
This can be avoided by following the provided installation instructions and utilizing the starter templates available on GitHub.

Related Concepts

Webassembly
Cloudflare Workers
Rust Programming Language