In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing RustRover on your Chromebook in 2024. RustRover is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for Rust programming. Whether you're a seasoned Rust developer or just starting out, having a robust IDE can significantly enhance your coding experience.

Before We Begin

There are a few important points to consider before we start the installation process:

• RustRover comes with a 30-day free trial. After this period, you'll need to purchase a license to continue using it.
• This tutorial is specifically for Chromebooks with Intel or AMD processors that support Linux Apps. Unfortunately, Chromebooks with ARM64 architecture CPUs are not compatible with this method.
• Ensure your Chromebook has Linux Apps Support enabled. If you haven't done this yet, you'll need to turn it on in your Chromebook settings.

Installation Process

Let's dive into the step-by-step process of installing RustRover on your Chromebook. We'll be using the terminal for most of these steps, so don't worry if you're not familiar with command-line interfaces – we'll guide you through each command.

Step 1: Update Your System

First, we'll update the package lists for upgrades and new package installations. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Next, we'll install a menu editor and the default Java Development Kit (JDK). The menu editor will allow us to add RustRover to our application menu, while the JDK is required for running Java-based applications like RustRover:

sudo apt install kmenuedit default-jdk

Step 3: Download RustRover

Now, let's download the RustRover package. We'll use wget, a command-line utility for retrieving files using HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP protocols:

wget https://download.jetbrains.com/rustrover/RustRover-241.15989.101.tar.gz

Step 4: Extract the Package

After downloading, we need to extract the contents of the tar.gz file:

tar -xf RustRover-241.15989.101.tar.gz

Step 5: Launch RustRover

Let's launch RustRover to ensure everything is working correctly:

./RustRover-241.15989.101/bin/rustrover.sh

Step 6: Add to Application Menu

Finally, we'll add RustRover to our application menu for easy access:

kmenuedit

In the menu editor, choose a category, click on "New Item", and create a desktop entry for RustRover. The command for the launcher should be the path to rustrover.sh.

Additional Resources

For more detailed instructions, you can refer to this Google Doc used in the tutorial.

For more information about RustRover and its features, visit the official JetBrains website.

Compatibility Information

For a comprehensive list of Chromebooks that support Linux Apps (Crostini), check out our guide on Linux Apps support.

Video Tutorial

Conclusion

Installing RustRover on your Chromebook opens up a world of possibilities for Rust development. With its powerful features and intuitive interface, you'll be writing efficient Rust code in no time. Remember to explore RustRover's documentation to make the most of its capabilities, and don't hesitate to reach out if you encounter any issues during the installation process.

Happy coding!

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