Decided to switch to Rust for writing system software, but the syntax is totally unfamiliar. With Python I'm used to everything being simple and quick, but here the compiler keeps complaining about borrowing and lifetimes. Maybe there are some resources or an approach to get up to speed faster?
The main thing is, don't expect Rust to be like Python, just with curly braces. It's a completely different level of control. The compiler complains for a reason - it's protecting you from memory leaks and data races that are hidden under the rug in Python. First thing, go through the official tutorial "The Book" (Rust Programming Language) - it's written specifically for people switching from other languages. It explains ownership and borrowing not as abstract math, but as practical concepts. At the same time, write small programs - don't rush into ambitious projects.
Lifetimes will be genuinely painful at first. The advice is simple: don't try to guess how to write them. Write code, the compiler complains, you read the error (they're usually informative in Rust), and you fix it. A couple of months - and it'll start making sense. The Rust Playground in your browser is super helpful; you get instant feedback without any extra setup hassle.
Resources: The Book (free on the website), then Rustlings - small exercises that make you write actual code. If the language isn't clicking - watch some video course on YouTube, some people explain concepts more clearly. The main thing is, don't give up in the first month when it feels like you understand nothing. That's normal.
The transition will be painful because Rust thinks completely differently - it's not just different syntax, it's a different philosophy of memory management. The compiler complains not to make your life miserable, but because it catches real bugs at compile time that would surface in runtime in Python. I'd recommend starting with the official book "The Rust Book" and doing the exercises from it slowly, even if it feels boring - a lot of developers' understanding of the language is built on it. In parallel, watch how experienced people solve typical tasks in Rust, don't try to write like you do in Python, because the language just won't let you.
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