Set Up an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Integrated Development Environment Setup for XION Smart Contract Development

A well configured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) can significantly streamline your smart contract development. While there are many options available for Rust development, the following IDEs stand out as top choices:

• Visual Studio Code (VS Code) – Provides the best overall experience with strong Rust support (Recommended).

• RustRover – A JetBrains IDE tailored specifically for Rust development, offering deep integration with Cargo, advanced debugging, and robust code navigation.

• Eclipse – A versatile IDE with Rust support through plugins like RustDT, suitable for developers who prefer an extensible and customizable environment.

Among these, we recommend VS Code for its excellent Rust support, ease of configuration, and built-in frontend development capabilities, eliminating the need for multiple tools.

Prerequisites

• Before proceeding, ensure that the Rust compiler (rustc) is installed. You can refer to the Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions on setting up Rust before continuing.

Install Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

VS Code is a widely used, free, and open-source IDE known for its powerful features, including a rich code editor, built-in Git integration, and robust debugging tools. With an extensive marketplace of extensions, VS Code provides excellent support for various programming languages, including Rust, Go, C++, Java, Python, and more. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Follow the steps below to install VS Code on your operating system:

Linux

See the Download Visual Studio Code page for a complete list of available installation options.

To install via the terminal use one of the following methods based on your operating system:

• Debian/Ubuntu (via .deb package):

  sudo apt install ./<file>.deb  # Replace <file> with the downloaded .deb file

• Fedora/RHEL (via .rpm package):

  sudo rpm -i <file>.rpm  # Replace <file> with the downloaded .rpm file

• Snap (Universal Linux Install):

  sudo snap install --classic code

macOS

1. Download the macOS version from the VS Code website.

2. Open the downloaded .zip file and move the Visual Studio Code app to the Applications folder.

3. (Optional) Install the Command Line Tools by running:

   sudo ln -s /Applications/Visual\ Studio\ Code.app/Contents/Resources/app/bin/code /usr/local/bin/code

   This allows you to open VS Code from the terminal using the code command.

Configuring VS Code for Rust Development

To enable Rust support in VS Code you need to install the following extensions:

• rust-analyzer: Provides syntax highlighting, code completion, error checking, and inline documentation.

• CodeLLDB: Enables debugging capabilities for Rust and other compiled languages.

Installing rust-analyzer

Follow these steps to install the extension:

1. Go to the Extension panel

2. In the Search field enter rust-analyzer

3. Click the install button to the bottom right of rust-analyzer

Installing CodeLLDB

The CodeLLDB extension is a native debugger essential for debugging Rust applications.

Follow these installation steps:

1. Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions panel.

2. Search for CodeLLDB.

3. Click the Install button next to CodeLLDB.

For comprehensive usage details, refer to the CodeLLDB Manual.