What are the best practices for using async libraries in Rust?

What are the best practices for using async libraries in Rust?

When using async libraries in Rust, it's important to follow a few best practices: 1. Use the async and await keywords properly to manage asynchronous code. 2. Prefer using tokio or async-std as they are the most popular runtimes. 3. Avoid blocking calls in async functions to prevent performance issues. 4. Use JoinHandle for managing spawned tasks. 5. Leverage error handling with Result and ? operator.

Can you explain why blocking calls are a problem in async functions?

Blocking calls in async functions can lead to performance bottlenecks because they prevent the async runtime from executing other tasks. This can result in increased latency and reduced throughput, as the entire thread may be held up waiting for the blocking operation to complete.

What are some common async libraries I should consider?

Some common async libraries in Rust include tokio, async-std, and smol. Each has its own strengths, with tokio being highly performant and feature-rich, while async-std aims for a more familiar synchronous API.

How do I handle errors in async Rust code?

In async Rust, you can handle errors using the Result type. Use the ? operator to propagate errors easily. Additionally, consider using the anyhow or thiserror crates for more ergonomic error handling.