Intermediate Rust: Mastering Macros

This intermediate-level course focuses on mastering macros in Rust. You'll dive deep into declarative and procedural macros, learn about macro expansion, hygiene, and best practices. By the end of this course, you'll be able to write complex macros to extend Rust's syntax and create powerful domain-specific languages within your Rust projects.

Total Chapters: 4

Estimated Time: 2 to 4 hours

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Course Outline
  • Chapter 1: Introduction to Macros in Rust

    In this chapter, you'll learn what macros are, why they are essential in Rust, and the fundamental differences between macros and functions. By the end of this chapter, you'll understand the types of macros available in Rust and know when and why to use them.

    • What Are Macros?
    • Macros vs. Functions in Rust
    • Types of Macros in Rust: Declarative and Procedural
    • Safety and Limitations of Macros in Rust
  • Chapter 2: Declarative Macros

    In this chapter, you'll dive into declarative macros in Rust, specifically learning about `macro_rules!`. By the end of this chapter, you'll know how to define basic macros, use pattern matching, and apply these macros to create reusable code structures.

    • Syntax of Declarative Macros (`macro_rules!`)
    • Pattern Matching in Macros
    • Using `macro_rules!` for Conditional Compilation
    • Writing Complex Declarative Macros for Custom Data Structures
  • Chapter 3: Procedural Macros

    In this chapter, you'll dive into procedural macros in Rust, exploring how to create and use derive, attribute, and function-like macros. By the end of this chapter, you'll have built custom macros and applied them to automate repetitive code, modify functionality, and generate structures with code that’s unique to Rust’s procedural macros.

    • Introduction to Procedural Macros
    • Derive Macros
    • Attribute Macros
    • Function-like Macros
  • Chapter 4: Creating Derive Macros

    In this chapter, you'll explore custom derive macros in Rust, learning how to automatically implement traits for structs and enums. You’ll practice creating custom derive macros and applying them to add behaviors to data types, significantly reducing repetitive code.

    • Derive Macro Basics
    • Writing a Simple Derive Macro
    • Handling Structs and Enums in Derive Macros
    • Advanced Derive Macros with Multiple Attributes
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