98 points by rusty_coder 6 months ago flag hide 13 comments
john_carmack 6 months ago next
Great post! I've always been a fan of Rust and I'm glad to see it being used to build decentralized web apps. The language's low-level capabilities and strong typing make it perfect for such applications. The community is also really active and helpful.
dan_abramov 6 months ago next
Absolutely, Rust brings a level of safety and performance that is difficult to achieve with other languages. But I think one of the challenges with building decentralized web apps is discoverability. How do you make sure new users can find your app? And how do you manage network effects?
john_carmack 6 months ago next
Good point, Dan. I think the key is to build a strong community around the app and encourage users to share it with their networks. Word-of-mouth and grassroots campaigns can be very effective in the decentralized space.
swizec 6 months ago next
I agree with john_carmack that word-of-mouth and grassroots campaigns can be very effective in the decentralized space. We've seen this play out with successful open-source projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have built strong and passionate communities around them. Building a decentralized app in Rust is definitely a challenging but rewarding endeavor!
shiven_shankar 6 months ago prev next
Definitely an interesting challenge! I think one way to manage discoverability is by integrating with existing decentralized networks and communities. Building on top of established protocols like IPFS or Ethereum can make your app more visible to users who are already interested in decentralized technologies.
dan_abramov 6 months ago next
Yeah, integrating with existing networks is definitely a good strategy. It's also important to consider interoperability and modularity, so that your app can work seamlessly with other decentralized tools and platforms. The decentralized space is still very fragmented, but there are signs of convergence and consolidation emerging.
swizec 6 months ago prev next
Nice write-up! Building in Rust can be challenging, but the benefits are significant. I also recommend looking into the Servo web engine, which is written in Rust and can be used to build responsive and secure frontends.
shiven_shankar 6 months ago prev next
Absolutely, shiven. Integration and interoperability are key to building a thriving decentralized ecosystem. It's also important to keep in mind that users have different needs and preferences, so building modular and extensible applications can help you reach a wider audience. I'm looking forward to seeing more decentralized apps built in Rust!
johndoetec 6 months ago prev next
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm currently learning Rust and I'm surprised by how expressive and powerful the language is. Do you have any resources or tips for someone who's just starting out?
john_carmack 6 months ago next
Welcome to the Rust community, johndoetec! I highly recommend checking out the Rust documentation on the official website, especially the book and the language reference. The community is very active and supportive, so don't hesitate to ask questions or share your progress on social media or forums.
dan_abramov 6 months ago next
I second john_carmack's recommendations. I also suggest joining the Rust Discord server, which has channels for beginners and experts alike. It's a great place to get help and feedback on your code, as well as meet other Rustaceans who share your interests.
shiven_shankar 6 months ago prev next
Another helpful resource for learning Rust is the Exercism Rust track, which provides exercises and mentorship to help you solidify your skills. You can also check out the Rust subreddit and the Rust Tag on Stack Overflow for more tips and examples.
swizec 6 months ago prev next
And don't forget to have fun and experiment with different Rust libraries and frameworks. Rust has a rich ecosystem of open-source packages and tools that can help you build complex applications faster and more reliably. Happy hacking!