[Windows] rustup-init.exe's on-screen instructions could be better
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- Dominant language
- Rust
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Description
I wanted to install rust in order to do cargo install <various-tools>. I see few issues here when gettings started:
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The on-screen instructions talk about version 2015 but the site where one should download says 2017. This confused me while searching for the right version:

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The site where one downloads is full of text and clutter and various download options. Took me a few moments to read the page and find the right software to download and install.
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Then I tried
ruseup-init.exeagain, but it still complained about about missingC++ build tools. Turns out that the software bundle installed in step 2 does not by default install theC++ build tools. So back to theBuild Tools for Visual Studio 2017and checking the right extra checkbox and reinstall.
Step 2 and 3 take about 2-3 hours and lots of disk space.
Actionable things that could be better here to improve Onboarding:
- Chance on-screen instructions to refer to 2017 and not the 2015 version.
- Maybe add a html guide with screenshots showing which software to download and which checkboxes to hit while installing. Or even better a GUI installer with screenshots.
- Also tell the user in the guide that it might take some time and also how much space it will take up on the hard drive.
Related to #1122.
PS As a side note I already tried to install some weeks ago and stopped at step 2 then noticing that I had not enought disk space.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the Windows rustup-init.exe onboarding instructions and read related issue #1122 for context. Update the guidance to refer to Visual Studio 2017, explain the required C++ build tools and installation choices, and note expected time and disk usage; a suitable guide or installer experience should make these steps clear.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- rust
- Domain
- developer-experience, documentation
- Issue type
- Documentation
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100