How to use the command "cargo doc" (with examples)
Cargo is the package manager for the Rust programming language. The “cargo doc” command builds and generates documentation for Rust projects and their dependencies. This is useful for developers who want to generate HTML documentation for their code, making it easier for others to understand and use their libraries or projects.
Use case 1: Build the documentation for the current project and all dependencies
Code:
cargo doc
Motivation: Building documentation for the current project and its dependencies is important when you want to generate a complete documentation set for your codebase. This allows developers to have a comprehensive understanding of your project and all its dependencies.
Explanation: The “cargo doc” command is used with no additional arguments. It automatically builds the documentation for the current project and its dependencies based on the configurations provided in the “Cargo.toml” file.
Example output: The command will compile and build the documentation for the current project and all its dependencies. The generated documentation will be stored in the “target/doc” directory.
Use case 2: Do not build documentation for dependencies
Code:
cargo doc --no-deps
Motivation: In some cases, it may not be necessary to build documentation for dependencies. This is particularly useful when you are only interested in generating documentation for your own project and do not want to spend time building documentation for its dependencies.
Explanation: The “–no-deps” flag is used to exclude dependency crates from the documentation build process. When this flag is used, the “cargo doc” command only builds the documentation for the current project.
Example output: The command will compile and build the documentation for the current project only, without including any dependencies. The generated documentation will be stored in the “target/doc” directory.
Use case 3: Build and open the documentation in a browser
Code:
cargo doc --open
Motivation: After generating documentation, it can be convenient to immediately view it in a web browser. This is especially useful when making changes to the documentation or when sharing the documentation with others.
Explanation: The “–open” flag is used to automatically open the generated documentation in the default web browser after it has been built. This allows developers to quickly view and navigate the documentation without manually opening it.
Example output: The command will compile and build the documentation for the current project and all its dependencies. Once the documentation is built, it will automatically open in the default web browser.
Use case 4: Build and view the documentation of a particular package
Code:
cargo doc --open --package package
Motivation: When working with large projects that consist of multiple packages or crates, it can be useful to generate and view the documentation for a specific package only, rather than the entire project.
Explanation: The “–package” flag is used to specify the package or crate for which you want to generate and view the documentation. The “package” argument should be replaced with the name of the desired package.
Example output: The command will compile and build the documentation for the specified package only. Once the documentation is built, it will automatically open in the default web browser.
Conclusion
The “cargo doc” command is a powerful tool for generating documentation for Rust projects. Whether you need to build documentation for the entire project, exclude dependencies, view it in a browser, or focus on a specific package, “cargo doc” provides the necessary functionality to meet your documentation needs.
