bacon

bacon is a background code checker specifically designed for Rust development. It runs continuously while you code, automatically detecting warnings, errors, and test failures without requiring manual intervention. The tool operates with minimal interaction, allowing developers to keep it running alongside their editor and receive real-time feedback on their code.

The tool supports multiple built-in jobs including cargo check, clippy, test, and doc generation, accessible through single-key shortcuts. You can switch between different analysis modes by pressing keys like 'c' for Clippy warnings, 't' for tests, or 'd' to open documentation. bacon also supports nextest integration and can target specific platforms or components like examples and benchmarks.

Customization is handled through a bacon.toml configuration file that can be generated with bacon --init. This file allows you to define custom jobs with specific cargo commands, watch patterns, and target configurations. The tool includes optional features for clipboard integration and sound notifications that can be enabled during installation.

bacon is particularly useful for Rust developers who want continuous feedback on their code quality without manually running cargo commands. It integrates into existing development workflows and can be configured per-project with settings committed to source control.

Installation

# via Cargo
cargo install --locked bacon

# via Cargo with features
cargo install --features "clipboard sound" bacon