I'm originally a front-end developer, mainly working with React and TypeScript.
Over time, I've also explored Node.js, Next.js, and Bun for building admin dashboards.
Recently, I started building a Rust-based full-stack project called rustzen-admin
.
This post shares my personal journey as a front-end dev trying Rust for the first time β from using Tauri to building a backend API with Axum, and eventually a complete admin system.
π§ How It Started: From Vite to Tauri
My Rust journey started passively.
- I noticed Rust was used in performance-critical tools like Vite plugins.
- Later I discovered Tauri, a lightweight Rust-based framework for desktop apps β a modern alternative to Electron.
When I had to build a small PC tool, Electron felt too heavy. So I gave Tauri a try.
The frontend setup was familiar, but once I saw the backend Rust code β I was completely lost.
π€ Learning by Doing (with AI)
I didn't sit down and study Rust from scratch.
β I initialized a Tauri project β got stuck β asked ChatGPT β tweaked code β got stuck again β repeated until it worked.
Initially I just handled some local file storage.
Then I decided to persist data with SQLite, introduced sqlx
, explored async functions, error handling, and eventually modularized the project.
Rust's ownership, type system, and syntax were tough at first.
But with real use cases and help from AI, I started to understand the logic and write more idiomatic code.
π οΈ Why Not Java / Node / Bun?
Before diving into Rust, I took time to evaluate some common backend choices:
Tech Stack | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Java | Stable, mature, widely used in companies | Verbose, slower startup, heavyweight setup |
Node.js | Huge ecosystem, easy to learn, fast to build | Weak typing, limited performance, heavy runtime |
Bun | Fast startup, lightweight toolchain | Small community, early-stage ecosystem |
Rust | πͺ Native performance, safe, easy to deploy | Steeper learning curve |
I don't work on massive enterprise systems. I just wanted a backend that is reliable, lightweight, and easy to maintain.
That's why I chose Rust: build once, ship a binary, no runtime, no Docker, no surprises.
ποΈ rustzen-admin: A Full-Stack Template in Rust + React
To organize my learnings, I started building rustzen-admin
,
a clean full-stack admin system powered by Rust and React β ideal for private deployment, lightweight dashboards, or internal tools.
Tech Stack Overview:
- Backend: Rust + Axum + sqlx + RBAC permissions + JWT auth
- Frontend: Vite + React + TailwindCSS + Zustand
- Tooling: dotenv for config, tracing for logs, argon2 for password hashing
- Deployment: Compiles into a single binary β no Docker, no Node runtime needed
β What's Done So Far
Here's what I've implemented so far:
- User registration, login, and JWT-based authentication
- Role-based permission system with RBAC
- Clean RESTful API structure and consistent error handling
- Modular backend architecture with service separation
- Frontend integration with TailwindUI and Zustand
The project was built completely by myself, learning as I go β using AI and community docs whenever I got stuck.
β¨ Why I'll Continue Using Rust
Rust isn't the easiest language to learn, but the trade-offs are worth it.
What I love most about Rust:
- Confidence in code: The type system prevents so many bugs at compile time
- Deploy simplicity: One file, drop it on the server, and you're good to go
- Memory safety: No GC, no leaks, great performance
- Cross-platform options: With Tauri, I can even ship desktop versions of the same backend
As a solo developer, these qualities let me build faster, deploy with ease, and focus more on product logic β not devops or runtime debugging.
π Resources
- The Rust Book
- Rust by Example
- Project Repo:
rustzen-admin
- More posts on my blog: idaibin.dev
π§ Final Thoughts
I'm not a backend engineer. I'm not a systems programmer.
I'm just a front-end developer trying to build a clean, reliable admin system.
Rust didn't make things faster at first β it made me think. But in return, it gave me confidence, clarity, and performance.
This post isn't about being an expert β it's about what it's like to start Rust as a real beginner.
If you're a front-end dev curious about Rust, start small.
Try Tauri. Build a CLI. Wrap a simple API. And maybe, like me, you'll stay.
π« Follow along β I'll be sharing more about Rust + React full-stack development in future posts.
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