Lunch & learn: Error Handling in Rust

Error handling is one of Rust’s superpowers - but it can be tricky to get right.

In this talk, we'll cut through the confusion and build a clear mental model for when to use `panic!`, `expect()`, `Result`, and popular crates like `anyhow` and `thiserror`. You'll learn to distinguish between recoverable errors (a missing file, a dropped network connection) and non-recoverable ones (logic bugs that mean your programme should stop immediately), and we'll work through real-world examples showing how to choose the right approach for applications versus libraries. Whether you're prototyping quickly or building production systems, you'll leave with practical patterns you can apply straight away.

What you’ll learn

• When to fail fast vs fail gracefully
• Practical patterns with `Result`, `?`, `anyhow`, and `thiserror`
• Guidance for prototypes, production systems, apps, and libraries
• Clear strategies for logging, context, and user-friendly messages

Who it’s for
Rust-curious devs through to experienced engineers who want cleaner, more reliable error paths.

Agenda

13:00 - Intros & welcome, Caroline Morton, Lizzie Holmes
13:05 - Fail Fast, Fail Gracefully: A Practical Guide to Rust Error Handling, Caroline Morton
13:40 - Q&A

FAQs

Are there any House Rules?
At SurrealDB, we are committed to providing live and online events that are safe and enjoyable for all attending. Please review our website for more information: https://surrealdb.com/legal/code-of-conduct

Is Women in Rust only for women?
We set up Women in Rust to foster a more inclusive and diverse Rust community by providing a dedicated space for women to connect, learn, and grow. Our online and in-person events are designed to support this mission. However, we also want to contribute to the wider Rust community, which is why all of our talks will be available to watch on YouTube Youtube after the event. We also welcome you to use our Notion Resources page, where you can find useful articles, reading materials and advice to help you on your journey in learning Rust.

How can I get involved with Women in Rust?
We’re always excited to welcome new contributors! You can get involved by:

• Speaking at our events: Share your expertise or experience with the community.
• Hosting online workshops: Lead interactive sessions to help others learn and grow.
• Spreading the word: Help us reach more people by sharing our events and initiatives.

Simply fill out this form to express your interest: https://surrealdb.typeform.com/to/B2gk7bzz.

We’ll be in touch to explore how we can collaborate. Let’s grow together— your involvement makes a difference!