cargo-init

Create a new Rust package in an existing directory

TLDR

Initialize in current directory

$ cargo init

Initialize binary project

$ cargo init --bin

Initialize library

$ cargo init --lib

Initialize without git

$ cargo init --vcs none

Initialize with specific name

$ cargo init --name [myproject]

Initialize with specific edition

$ cargo init --edition [2021]

Initialize in a specific directory

$ cargo init [path/to/dir]

SYNOPSIS

cargo init [options] [path]

DESCRIPTION

cargo init creates a new Cargo package in an existing directory. Generates Cargo.toml and src/ with either main.rs (binary) or lib.rs (library). Unlike cargo new, does not create a new directory.

PARAMETERS

--bin

Create binary target with src/main.rs (default).

--lib

Create library target with src/lib.rs.

--name name

Set package name (defaults to directory name).

--edition year

Rust edition (2015, 2018, 2021, 2024).

--vcs type

Initialize version control (git, hg, pijul, fossil, none).

--registry name

Registry for publishing.

--force

Force overwrite of existing Cargo.toml or src directory.

-v, --verbose

Verbose output.

-q, --quiet

Suppress output.

GENERATED FILES

$ .
├── Cargo.toml
├── .gitignore (if using git)
└── src
└── main.rs (or lib.rs)

CAVEATS

Default edition is 2024 in recent Rust versions. Initializes git repository by default if not already in one.