How do I make a POST request with curl-rust?

Use the `post` method on an `Easy` handle and set the request body via `read_function`, as shown in the README example with `post(true)` and `post_field_size` for configuring the method and data transfer.

curl-rust vs reqwest: which is better for my project?

curl-rust is ideal if you need curl's full feature set, low-level control, or specific SSL backends, while reqwest offers a more Rust-idiomatic, async-first API with simpler setup but less protocol flexibility.

Does curl-rust support async/await?

Not natively; it uses blocking calls for simple transfers and a multi interface for concurrency. For async Rust, you might need to wrap it in tasks or consider crates like reqwest that are built on async/await.

How to fix SSL CA cert errors in curl-rust?

This often occurs with NSS SSL library; install missing libraries like `nss-plugin-pem` or switch SSL backends by disabling default features and enabling alternatives like rustls, as detailed in the troubleshooting section.

Can I use curl-rust without OpenSSL on Windows?

Yes, by using the `schannel` feature for Windows' native SSL or enabling `rustls` for a Rust-based backend, though rustls is experimental and may have stability issues per the README.

Is curl-rust thread-safe for concurrent requests?

The `Easy` handle is not thread-safe by default, but you can use it in multi-threaded contexts with proper synchronization, or leverage the multi interface from the `multi` module for efficient concurrent transfers.

Open-Awesome

curl-rust

MITRust0.4.51

Rust bindings to libcurl for making HTTP requests and network transfers.

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1.1k stars265 forks0 contributors

What is curl-rust?

curl-rust is a Rust library that provides bindings to the libcurl C library, allowing Rust applications to make HTTP requests and perform network transfers. It wraps libcurl's functionality in a safe, idiomatic Rust API while maintaining compatibility with curl's extensive feature set including multiple protocols, SSL/TLS backends, and authentication methods.

Target Audience

Rust developers who need to make HTTP requests or network transfers in their applications, particularly those who require the reliability, performance, and protocol support of the battle-tested curl library.

Value Proposition

Developers choose curl-rust because it provides the full power of libcurl with Rust's safety guarantees, offers multiple TLS backend options including Rustls, and maintains excellent performance while being actively maintained and widely used in the Rust ecosystem.

Overview

Rust bindings to libcurl

Use Cases

Best For

Making HTTP requests from Rust applications
Building API clients in Rust that need advanced features like custom headers and authentication
Implementing file transfers or network operations in Rust
Creating web scrapers or crawlers in Rust
Developing command-line tools in Rust that need HTTP capabilities
Applications requiring multiple concurrent HTTP requests via the multi interface

Not Ideal For

Projects prioritizing minimal dependencies or pure Rust implementations, as curl-rust relies on the external libcurl C library.
Applications requiring simple, async-first HTTP clients without the overhead of curl's extensive feature set.
Environments where system-wide libcurl installation is restricted or problematic, leading to linking issues.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Full libcurl API access

Exposes both easy and multi interfaces, enabling everything from simple GET requests to concurrent transfers, as demonstrated in the README examples.

Multiple SSL/TLS backends

Supports OpenSSL, Rustls, Schannel, and Secure Transport via feature flags, allowing flexibility across different platforms and security requirements.

Battle-tested performance

Leverages curl's decades of optimization and reliability, with features like connection reuse for efficient repeated requests.

Extensive protocol support

Inherits libcurl's wide protocol range, including HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2 via nghttp2, and more, suitable for diverse network tasks.

Cons

Experimental Rustls support

The README warns that Rustls backend is experimental and may have significant bugs, with no stability guarantees, making it risky for production use.

Complex dependency management

Requires system libcurl and SSL libraries, leading to potential issues like the NSS SSL error mentioned, and configuring static linking involves multiple feature flags.

Not async-native

While it offers concurrent transfers via the multi interface, it doesn't integrate seamlessly with Rust's async/await ecosystem, which might be less ergonomic for modern applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

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