Rust CLI Build, Run, Test, and Lint

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Everyday Cargo workflows for checking, building, running, testing, formatting, linting, and cleaning Rust CLI projects.

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Build and run

Fast iteration commands for local development.

Type-check without producing binaries

Validate code quickly without final artifacts.

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bashANYcargocheck

bash

cargo check

Faster than a full build for many edit-compile cycles.

Build debug artifacts

Compile the package in the dev profile.

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bashANYcargobuilddebug

bash

cargo build

Builds binaries and libraries for selected packages and targets.

Build optimized release artifacts

Compile with the release profile.

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bashANYcargobuildrelease

bash

cargo build --release

Uses the `release` profile for optimized builds.

Build and run the default binary

Compile if needed and execute the program.

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bashANYcargorun

bash

cargo run

Pass app arguments after `--` when needed.

Pass arguments to the binary

Separate Cargo flags from program flags with `--`.

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bashANYcargorunargs

bash

cargo run -- --help

Arguments after `--` are forwarded to the compiled binary.

Run a specific binary target

Choose which binary to execute in multi-bin packages.

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bashANYcargorunbin

bash

cargo run --bin admin-tool

Useful when the package exposes more than one executable.

Run an example target

Build and execute example code.

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bashANYcargorunexample

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cargo run --example demo

Examples can be useful for smoke tests and documentation.

Tests and benches

Test execution, filtering, and output control.

Run the test suite

Build and run tests for the local package.

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bashANYcargotest

bash

cargo test

The default workflow for unit tests, integration tests, and doctests.

Run a matching subset of tests

Filter tests by substring.

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bashANYcargotestfilter

bash

cargo test parse_args

Great for tight feedback loops while debugging one area.

Show println output in tests

Pass test harness flags after `--`.

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bashANYcargotestnocapture

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cargo test -- --nocapture

The flags after the separator go to the test harness, not Cargo.

Run tests serially

Force one test thread.

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bashANYcargotestthreads

bash

cargo test -- --test-threads=1

Helps when tests share global state or external ports.

Run benchmarks

Execute benchmark targets if configured.

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bashANYcargobench

bash

cargo bench

Benchmark support is available through Cargo benchmark targets.

Formatting, linting, cleaning

Keep code consistent and remove stale artifacts.

Format source code

Run rustfmt across the package.

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bashANYcargofmtrustfmt

bash

cargo fmt

Requires the rustfmt component to be installed.

Check formatting in CI

Fail if files are not formatted.

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bashANYcargofmtci

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cargo fmt -- --check

Common CI guard to enforce formatting.

Run Clippy lints

Analyze code for common mistakes and style issues.

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bashANYcargoclippylint

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cargo clippy

Requires the Clippy component to be installed.

Treat warnings as errors

Fail the lint run on warnings.

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bashANYcargoclippyci

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cargo clippy -- -D warnings

A stricter CI pattern for keeping lint debt low.

Remove build artifacts

Delete the `target` directory for the package.

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bashANYcargoclean

bash

cargo clean

Useful when debugging stale builds or reclaiming disk space.

Profiles and target selection

Build specific targets or profiles.

Build one binary target

Compile a chosen binary only.

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bashANYcargobuildbin

bash

cargo build --bin admin-tool

Targets can be selected individually in multi-target packages.

Build an example target

Compile only a chosen example.

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bashANYcargobuildexample

bash

cargo build --example demo

Useful for verifying example code compiles.

Build tests without running them

Compile test artifacts only.

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bashANYcargotestno-run

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cargo test --no-run

Good for CI stages or debugging compilation failures in tests.

Check all package targets

Type-check binaries, tests, examples, and benches.

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bashANYcargochecktargets

bash

cargo check --all-targets

Broad validation helps catch code paths not built by default.

More in Rust CLI

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: CI, Environment, Build Scripts, and Publishing

Commands for debugging CI failures, environment mismatches, build script output, installation problems, and publish checks in Rust CLI projects.

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: rustup, Toolchains, Components, and Targets

Commands for fixing toolchain mismatches, missing components, and cross-compilation target issues in Rust CLI projects.

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: Tests, Doctests, and Documentation

Commands for debugging failing tests, capturing output, isolating flaky cases, and fixing documentation-generation issues in Rust CLI projects.

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: Dependencies, Features, and Lockfiles

Commands for analyzing dependency trees, feature activation, duplicate crates, and lockfile behavior in Rust CLI projects.

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: Manifest, Packages, and Workspaces

Commands and examples for debugging Cargo.toml issues, package selection mistakes, and workspace confusion in Rust CLI repos.

Rust CLI Troubleshooting: Build Errors and Diagnostics

Commands for investigating compiler errors, Cargo diagnostics, verbose output, and fix suggestions in Rust CLI projects.

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