I'm currently working on a sizeable Rust backend with around 104k lines of code, which primarily handles database interactions through various routes and services using the Axum web server. However, the build and compile times are really hindering my productivity—typically taking around 3-4 minutes for a full build and 20 seconds for a cargo check. Even my colleagues with better hardware are experiencing similar delays, which is frustrating.
I've implemented some basic optimizations like incremental builds and improved import usage, but so far I've only seen a max 10% increase in speed. I suspect part of the problem is how the code is structured; for instance, when I change something in the customers module, the entire system has to recompile models, routes, and services due to them all being part of the same crate.
I considered advice I found suggesting to split the codebase into separate crates for routes, models, and services, but I'm worried that would just make things neater without actually solving the compilation time issue. Instead, I was thinking about creating specific crates for components like 'customers', where all related routes and services are bundled together. I'd really appreciate any insights, suggestions, or experiences from others who have tackled similar problems. How can I improve compile times so I can get back to coding more efficiently?
2 Answers
Honestly, 3-4 minutes feels about right for a project of that size. There are trade-offs with Rust's guarantees. I remember working on a massive C++ project where builds would take 25 minutes on older machines! I’ve read that a lot of the delays can come from the LLVM backend if you're using it, and unfortunately, that doesn't mean there's an easy fix. Just hang in there! On the flip side, at least you’re not alone in this struggle!
3-4 minutes for a build? That's not too surprising considering the scale of your project; I've seen builds take upwards of 8 minutes on a stronger setup. I usually just take the downtime to browse the web or grab a snack. The real pain, though, comes with that 20-second cargo analyzer check—it's like waiting for the kettle to boil! Have you noticed if other tools in your setup are affecting that wait time?
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