skillby bearcove
idiomatic-rust
Idiomatic Rust patterns for pikru C port. Use when writing or reviewing Rust code ported from C. Don't write C in Rust - the goal is correct behavior, not line-by-line translation.
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Used in: 1 repos
Updated: 1h ago
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# Idiomatic Rust: Don't port C patterns
This is a Rust port of C code, but **do not write C in Rust**. The goal is correct behavior, not line-by-line translation.
## Put logic where the data lives
If a struct has all the information needed to compute something, make it a method:
```rust
// BAD: C-style function with boolean flag soup
fn text_width(text: &str, charwid: f64, is_mono: bool, font_scale: f64, is_bold: bool) -> f64
// GOOD: The type already knows its properties
impl PositionedText {
fn width_inches(&self, charwid: f64) -> f64 {
// self.mono, self.bold, self.big are all right here
}
}
```
**Rationale:** Boolean flags are:
- Easy to pass in wrong order (`width(s, w, true, 1.0, false)` - which bool is which?)
- Require the caller to extract properties just to pass them back in
- Duplicate knowledge that the type already has
## Use newtypes for domain concepts
```rust
// BAD: Bare f64 everywhere, easy to mix up inches and pixels
fn convert(value: f64, scale: f64) -> f64
// GOOD: The type system catches mistakes
struct Inches(f64);
struct Pixels(f64);
fn convert(value: Inches, scale: &Scaler) -> Pixels
```
## Prefer methods over standalone functions
When you find yourself writing `foo_bar(bar, ...)`, consider `bar.foo(...)` instead. This:
- Groups related functionality
- Enables IDE autocomplete on the type
- Makes the relationship between data and operations explicit
## Enums over boolean flags
```rust
// BAD: What does `true` mean here?
render_text(text, true, false)
// GOOD: Self-documenting
enum TextAnchor { Start, Middle, End }
render_text(text, TextAnchor::Start)
```
## The C code is a spec, not a template
When porting C:
1. Understand what the C code **does** (behavior)
2. Understand **why** it does it (intent)
3. Implement that behavior idiomatically in Rust
The `// cref:` comments link to C for reference, but the Rust should stand on its own.Quick Install
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- Type
- skill
- Author
- bearcove
- Slug
- bearcove/idiomatic-rust
- Created
- 2d ago