How to use the command 'cargo install' (with examples)

The cargo install command is a part of the Rust package manager, Cargo. It is used to build and install a Rust binary for easy use. This command is useful when you want to install packages from the official Rust package registry, crates.io, or from a specified Git repository.

Use case 1: Install a package from crates.io

Code:

cargo install package@version

Motivation: You want to install a package from the official Rust package registry, crates.io. You can specify the package name along with an optional version. If no version is specified, the latest version of the package will be installed.

Explanation:

• cargo install: This is the command to install a Rust binary.
• package: The name of the package you want to install from crates.io.
• @version: An optional parameter to specify the version of the package. If no version is provided, the command installs the latest version.

Example output:

$ cargo install serde@1.0.126
  Installing serde v1.0.126
  Downloading crates ...
  Compiling ...
  Finished release ...
  Installed package `serde v1.0.126` (executable: serde)

Use case 2: Install a package from a specified Git repository

Code:

cargo install --git repo_url

Motivation: You want to install a Rust package from a specific Git repository. This is useful when you want to install a package that is not available on crates.io but is hosted on a Git repository.

Explanation:

• cargo install: The command to install a Rust binary.
• --git repo_url: This flag is used to specify the URL of the Git repository you want to install the package from.

Example output:

$ cargo install --git https://github.com/username/repository
  Installing package from git repository `https://github.com/username/repository` at branch `master`
  Downloading repository ...
  Compiling ...
  Finished release ...
  Installed package `repository v1.0.0` (executable: repository)

Use case 3: Build from a specified branch/tag/commit when installing from a Git repository

Code:

cargo install --git repo_url --branch|tag|rev branch_name|tag|commit_hash

Motivation: You want to install a package from a Git repository and build from a specific branch, tag, or commit. This is useful when you want to install a specific version of the package or test a feature/fix on a specific branch.

Explanation:

• cargo install: The command to install a Rust binary.
• --git repo_url: This flag is used to specify the URL of the Git repository you want to install the package from.
• --branch|tag|rev branch_name|tag|commit_hash: This flag is used to specify the branch, tag, or commit hash you want to build the package from.

Example output:

$ cargo install --git https://github.com/username/repository --branch main
  Installing package from git repository `https://github.com/username/repository` at branch `main`
  Downloading repository ...
  Compiling ...
  Finished release ...
  Installed package `repository v1.0.0` (executable: repository)

Use case 4: List all installed packages and their versions

Code:

cargo install --list

Motivation: You want to view a list of all the Rust packages you have installed on your system along with their versions. This is useful when you want to manage the packages you have installed or check for updates.

Explanation:

• cargo install: The command to install a Rust binary.
• --list: This flag is used to list all the installed packages and their versions.

Example output:

$ cargo install --list
  Installed packages:
      - serde v1.0.126
      - repository v1.0.0

Conclusion:

The cargo install command is a powerful tool in the Rust ecosystem, allowing you to easily install and manage Rust packages. Whether you want to install packages from crates.io or from a Git repository, this command provides a simple and efficient way to do so. Additionally, the ability to specify branches, tags, and commits when installing from a Git repository gives you even more flexibility. Use the --list flag to get an overview of all the packages you have installed and their respective versions. With cargo install, you can easily build and install Rust binaries, making it a crucial command in your Rust development workflow.