Cargo vs Shards
Cargo
doc.rust-lang.orgShards
crystal-lang.orgSide by side
| Figure | Cargo | Shards |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#6) | 8.1 (#34) |
| Commands | Cargo includes commands for compiling, checking, documenting, testing, running, packaging, installing, and publishing Rust packages. | Available commands include build, check, init, install, list, prune, update, and version. |
| Installation | The documented rustup installer installs Cargo alongside the stable Rust release. | Crystal packages and installation options are listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and other systems; Shards is usually distributed with Crystal or available as a separate package. |
| Purpose | Cargo is the Rust package manager. | Shards is Crystal’s dependency manager for managing dependencies for Crystal projects and libraries. |
| Support | Cargo asks users to report bugs through its GitHub issue tracker. | The project directs users to its community forum and Discord for help. |
| Supported platforms | Windows; macOS; Linux; other Unix-like systems | The install page lists Linux, macOS, and Windows, and lists Android installation through community-maintained Termux packages. |
Plans
In their own words
Cargo
Cargo is the free package manager and build tool for Rust, used through a command-line interface. It downloads dependencies, builds packages, and supports repeatable builds with lockfiles. Developers can compile, check, document, test, run, package, install, and publish Rust projects. The `cargo new` command creates a package, defaulting to a binary; adding `--lib` creates a library. Cargo uses crates.io by default and also handles alternate registries, Git dependencies, and local paths. Workspaces allow multiple packages to share a lockfile and output directory. Package features can enable conditional compilation and optional dependencies. In offline mode, Cargo avoids network access and attempts to use cached data. It supports authentication options for registries and new subcommands without modifying Cargo itself. Rustup installs Cargo with the stable Rust release, and installation instructions cover Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems. Cargo is open source under the MIT and Apache License, Version 2.0. Some documented capabilities remain unstable and require a nightly toolchain and `-Z` flags.