Fullstack Rust Project

In this lesson, you will build a complete fullstack application using Rust. This project combines backend development, APIs, data handling, and performance concepts you have learned throughout the course.

The goal is to understand how Rust can be used end-to-end in real-world systems.

What Is a Fullstack Application?

A fullstack application includes both:

• Backend – business logic, APIs, and data handling
• Frontend – user interaction and presentation

In this lesson, Rust will handle the backend, while the frontend can be a simple web interface.

Project Overview

We will build a simple Task Management API using Rust.

The project will include:

• A REST API built with Rust
• CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
• JSON-based communication
• Basic in-memory data storage

Project Structure

A clean project structure improves maintainability and scalability.

task-manager/
├── Cargo.toml
└── src/
    ├── main.rs
    ├── models.rs
    └── handlers.rs

Each file has a clear responsibility, following Rust best practices.

Creating a Task Model

The task model represents the data structure used by the application.

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
struct Task {
    id: u32,
    title: String,
    completed: bool,
}

This struct defines the core data used throughout the application.

Basic API Handler

The handler manages incoming requests and responses.

fn list_tasks(tasks: &Vec) {
    for task in tasks {
        println!("{:?}", task);
    }
}

This function prints all tasks and simulates a simple API response.

Adding a New Task

Creating new data is a fundamental operation in any application.

fn add_task(tasks: &mut Vec, title: String) {
    let id = tasks.len() as u32 + 1;
    let task = Task {
        id,
        title,
        completed: false,
    };
    tasks.push(task);
}

This function dynamically creates and stores a new task.

Updating and Deleting Tasks

Updating and deleting records are essential for real-world systems.

fn complete_task(tasks: &mut Vec, id: u32) {
    for task in tasks {
        if task.id == id {
            task.completed = true;
        }
    }
}

This logic modifies existing data safely using mutable references.

Why Rust Works Well for Fullstack Projects

Rust is an excellent choice for fullstack development because it offers:

• Memory safety without garbage collection
• High performance
• Strong type system
• Excellent concurrency support

These features make Rust suitable for high-traffic and mission-critical systems.

Scaling the Project

In a production system, this project can be extended by:

• Adding a database (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
• Using a web framework (Actix, Rocket)
• Adding authentication and authorization
• Building a frontend with React, Vue, or WASM

📝 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1

Add a function to delete a task by ID.

Exercise 2

Modify the task structure to include a description field.

Exercise 3

Simulate an API call that lists only completed tasks.

✅ Practice Answers

Answer 1

fn delete_task(tasks: &mut Vec, id: u32) {
    tasks.retain(|task| task.id != id);
}

Answer 2

struct Task {
    id: u32,
    title: String,
    description: String,
    completed: bool,
}

Answer 3

let completed: Vec<&Task> =
    tasks.iter().filter(|t| t.completed).collect();

What’s Next?

In the final lesson, you will complete the Rust Capstone Project, bringing together everything you have learned into a polished, production-ready system.