Rust Programming Course for Beginners in Uganda & East Africa

Course outline and learning expectations

This is a tutor-led course. The outline shows what your tutor will cover; teaching materials and examinations are provided directly to enrolled students.

What you will learn

• By the end of this beginner Rust programming course, the learner will be able to:
• Install and manage the stable Rust toolchain using `rustup`, `rustc`, and Cargo.
• Write, compile, run, format, and troubleshoot Rust programs.
• Use variables, scalar and compound data types, functions, expressions, conditionals, and loops.
• Explain Rust ownership, moves, copies, borrowing, references, mutable references, and slices.
• Model data with structs, enums, methods, `Option`, pattern matching, `match`, and `if let`.
• Work confidently with strings, vectors, and hash maps.
• Handle recoverable and unrecoverable errors with `Result`, the `?` operator, and `panic!`.
• Organise code with packages, crates, modules, paths, and visibility rules.
• Write unit tests, read compiler diagnostics, and improve code with Rustfmt and Clippy.
• Build a practical, memory-safe command-line program using core Rust language features.

Modules

1. 1

   Getting Started with Rust Programming

   What Rust is and where the language is usedMemory safety, performance, and reliabilityInstalling Rust with `rustup`Understanding `rustc`, Cargo, crates, and packagesCreating, compiling, and running a first Rust programReading compiler messages
2. 2

   Rust Syntax and Core Programming Concepts

   Variables, mutability, constants, and shadowingIntegers, floating-point numbers, Boolean values, and charactersTuples and arraysFunctions, parameters, statements, expressions, and return values`if`, `else`, `loop`, `while`, and `for`Mini project: local unit and currency calculation tool
3. 3

   Ownership, Borrowing, References, and Slices

   Stack and heap foundationsOwnership rulesMove and copy semanticsBorrowing and referencesMutable borrowingString slices and array slicesCommon borrow-checker errors and how to resolve them
4. 4

   Structs, Enums, and Pattern Matching

   Defining and creating structsMethods and associated functionsEnums and data-carrying variants`Option<T>` and representing missing values safely`match`, `if let`, and `let...else`Mini project: customer or inventory record model
5. 5

   Collections, Strings, and Error Handling

   Vectors and hash mapsUTF-8 strings and safe string operations`panic!` and unrecoverable errors`Result<T, E>` and recoverable errorsPropagating errors with the `?` operatorFile reading and writing with clear error messages
6. 6

   Packages, Crates, Modules, and Cargo

   Binary and library cratesModules, paths, `use`, and visibilityManaging dependencies with `Cargo.toml`Understanding `Cargo.lock`Building documentation with `cargo doc`Using locally installed Rust documentation
7. 7

   Testing, Debugging, and Code Quality

   Unit tests and test modulesTesting expected results and expected failuresOrganising integration testsDebugging with compiler diagnosticsFormatting with RustfmtLinting with ClippyWriting readable, idiomatic beginner Rust
8. 8

   Beginner Rust Capstone

   Model information with structs and enumsValidate input with `Option` and `Result`Store and summarise records with collectionsSeparate the program into modulesAdd tests, documentation, formatting, and clear usage instructionsPlan a command-line records processor for a locally relevant scenario such as stock, produce, school,