cargo init - The Cargo Book

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# cargo-init(1)

## NAME

cargo-init — Create a new Cargo package in an existing directory

## SYNOPSIS

`cargo init` [options] [path]

## DESCRIPTION

This command will create a new Cargo manifest in the current directory. Give a path as an argument to create in the given directory.

If there are typically-named Rust source files already in the directory, those will be used. If not, then a sample `src/main.rs` file will be created, or `src/lib.rs` if `--lib` is passed.

If the directory is not already in a VCS repository, then a new repository is created (see `--vcs` below).

See cargo-new(1) for a similar command which will create a new package in a new directory.

## OPTIONS

### Init Options

`--bin`

  Create a package with a binary target (`src/main.rs`). This is the default behavior.

`--lib`

  Create a package with a library target (`src/lib.rs`).

`--edition` edition

  Specify the Rust edition to use. Default is 2024. Possible values: 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024

`--name` name

  Set the package name. Defaults to the directory name.

`--vcs` vcs

  Initialize a new VCS repository for the given version control system (git, hg, pijul, or fossil) or do not initialize any version control at all (none). If not specified, defaults to `git` or the configuration value `cargo-new.vcs`, or `none` if already inside a VCS repository.

`--registry` registry

  This sets the `publish` field in `Cargo.toml` to the given registry name which will restrict publishing only to that registry.

  Registry names are defined in Cargo config files. If not specified, the default registry defined by the `registry.default` config key is used. If the default registry is not set and `--registry` is not used, the `publish` field will not be set which means that publishing will not be restricted.

### Display Options

`-v`
`--verbose`

  Use verbose output. May be specified twice for “very verbose” output which includes extra output such as dependency warnings and build script output. May also be specified with the `term.verbose` config value.

`-q`
`--quiet`

  Do not print cargo log messages. May also be specified with the `term.quiet` config value.

`--color` when

  Control when colored output is used. Valid values:

  - `auto` (default): Automatically detect if color support is available on the terminal.
  - `always`: Always display colors.
  - `never`: Never display colors.

  May also be specified with the `term.color` config value.

### Common Options

`+`toolchain

  If Cargo has been installed with rustup, and the first argument to `cargo` begins with `+`, it will be interpreted as a rustup toolchain name (such as `+stable` or `+nightly`). See the rustup documentation for more information about how toolchain overrides work.

`--config` KEY=VALUE or PATH

  Overrides a Cargo configuration value. The argument should be in TOML syntax of `KEY=VALUE`, or provided as a path to an extra configuration file. This flag may be specified multiple times. See the command-line overrides section for more information.

`-C` PATH

  Changes the current working directory before executing any specified operations. This affects things like where cargo looks by default for the project manifest (`Cargo.toml`), as well as the directories searched for discovering `.cargo/config.toml`, for example. This option must appear before the command name, for example `cargo -C path/to/my-project build`.

  This option is only available on the nightly channel and requires the `-Z unstable-options` flag to enable (see #10098).

`-h`
`--help`

  Prints help information.

`-Z` flag

  Unstable (nightly-only) flags to Cargo. Run `cargo -Z help` for details.

## ENVIRONMENT

See the reference for details on environment variables that Cargo reads.

## EXIT STATUS

- `0`: Cargo succeeded.
- `101`: Cargo failed to complete.

## EXAMPLES

1. Create a binary Cargo package in the current directory:

       cargo init

## SEE ALSO

cargo(1), cargo-new(1)