Rust build vs compilation, and working in worktrees with sccache

rust
cargo
sccache
git-worktrees
Author

Ran Li

Published

November 6, 2026

1. Ramblings

  • rust has compilation then build
  • iw ant t konw the idferinces
  • the efect of tec sucha s sccache on rust wokr in worktrees
  • i want atbles of conidioatn and worktres and scenairoes to fully udnrestand

2. Understanding

  • Triage
    • So I think i asked great questions above
    • They are very ‘fundamental’ questions - the answers to which require a fundamental working baseline vocabulary of Rust workflows to even begin to answer
    • I first initialized a basic super simple rust glossary in this site
    • From there we will triage and answer the rambling questions from above
  • Breakdown/rephrase: first lets isolate the specific questions or points of confusion
    • Core question 1: Compilation vs Build
    • Core question 2: Worktrees and Sccache

2.1 Core Question 1: Compilation vs Build

  • Compilation or compiling within the Rust/Cargo workflows is a step.
    • This takes rust code and builds an output artifact (which could be a exe or rlib or wasm or other artifacts); These are artifacts can be consumed/used by users
  • Build is a specific Cargo command cargo build which does a few steps for a speicifed scope of work
    • Build can be specified to work at various levels (
      • worspace level  -> all packages/crates within  a repo
      • package -> specific packgaes and all its crates
      • crate -> specific crates
    • it then within the scope sepcific does a two main steps
      • Firstly it compiles all the crates that is within the scope (plus dpednenceis)
      • Then it Links the individual crate output artifacts into a single develoerable artifact per target as specificed
  • So in summary
    • Compilation is a step
    • Build is a process/command that calls compilation

Follow-up

  • The rambling asked two big queistons
  • We answer hte first one as its a good scope for a tidibit
  • we filled follow two tibbits 
    • one to asnwer hte core quesiton 2
    • another to reoslve a new confusiong point hta came up which is the diffeirentiation of crate vs package (and their file tree implemtations)