rust-webapp

name	rust-webapp
description	Build full-stack web applications using Rust (Axum + SQLx) with server-rendered frontend patterns using HTMX + Alpine.js or DataStar, plus Neon (serverless PostgreSQL). Use when asked to create web apps, CRUD apps, dashboards, forms, or any stateful web application. Triggers on requests like "build a todo app", "create a voting app", "make a dashboard", "build a blog", etc.

Build full-stack stateful web apps using Axum + server-rendered frontend patterns + Neon (PostgreSQL).

Stack: Axum + SQLx (Rust), Askama templates + HTMX + Alpine.js or DataStar + PicoCSS, Neon (PostgreSQL), Docker.

Workflow

Phase 1: Setup

Requirements before scaffolding:

• Rust toolchain with cargo installed from https://rustup.rs.
• neonctl, jq, and sqlx-cli available on PATH.
• NEON_API_KEY and NEON_PROJECT_ID exported in the environment.

Install tool dependencies once:

npm i -g neonctl
brew install jq
cargo install sqlx-cli --features postgres,native-tls

Scaffold app ({skill_dir} = the directory containing this SKILL.md):

NEON_BRANCH_TTL=2h {skill_dir}/scripts/scaffold <app-name> .

Creates app files and a Neon branch ({app}-dev) with 2h expiration.

Phase 2: Data Modeling

1. Define models in src/models.rs
2. Write migration SQL in migrations/001_init.sql
3. Use SERIAL for i32, BIGSERIAL for i64

Reference: Models - SQLx patterns, struct definitions, type mapping

Phase 3: Backend Implementation

1. Add route handlers in src/main.rs
2. All handlers return Result<T, AppError> - use ? operator
3. NEVER use .expect() or .unwrap() - causes server crashes
4. Route params use {id} syntax (NOT :id)

Reference: Handlers - CRUD patterns, router setup, transactions

Phase 4: Frontend

1. Update Askama templates in templates/
2. Delete unused template files (create.html, edit.html if not needed)
3. Default to HTMX + Alpine.js for simpler CRUD, forms, filters, and small local UI state
4. Use DataStar only when the Rust app needs a more advanced reactive surface:
   • SSE-first or realtime UI
   • Progressive multi-event backend responses
   • One feature needing both local reactive state and server-pushed updates
5. If unsure, start with HTMX + Alpine.js
6. Do not mix HTMX and DataStar on the same interaction surface unless there is a concrete reason

Reference: Templates - Askama, HTMX, Alpine patterns Reference: Design - CSS components, layout patterns Reference: DataStar - when to prefer it in this Rust skill, template patterns, SSE patterns, and further reading

Phase 5: Validation

Validate (runs cargo check, clippy, tests, release build):

{skill_dir}/scripts/validate .

Fix all errors before completing.

When Things Fail

• Missing NEON_API_KEY/NEON_PROJECT_ID: ask the user to export them, then rerun scaffold - it detects the partial run and redoes only the Neon step.
• Migration checksum mismatch: never edit an already-applied migration - revert the edit and add a new migration file. Last resort (dev only, destroys data): {skill_dir}/scripts/validate . --reset.
• Clippy failures: fix the code, never silence with #[allow(...)].

Template Structure

├── Cargo.toml              # Dependencies
├── Dockerfile              # Multi-stage Rust build
├── src/
│   ├── main.rs             # Axum server, routes, templates
│   ├── db.rs               # SQLx pool setup
│   └── models.rs           # Data structs
├── templates/
│   ├── base.html           # Base layout (PicoCSS/HTMX/Alpine CDN; DataStar opt-in)
│   ├── index.html          # List view
│   ├── edit.html           # Edit form
│   └── create.html         # Create form
├── static/
│   └── styles.css          # Custom CSS overrides
└── migrations/
    └── 001_init.sql        # Database schema

Critical Rules

1. NEVER .expect() or .unwrap() in handlers - use ? operator
2. Route params: {id} not :id - wrong syntax compiles but panics at runtime
3. All handlers return Result<T, AppError>
4. Check rows_affected() for DELETE/UPDATE to return 404
5. Use compile-time SQLx macros (query!, query_as!)
6. Ensure the app has enough logs for basic observability

Full list: Pitfalls

Constraints

• Neon (PostgreSQL) required - needs DATABASE_URL
• All routes at root level (/, /new, /{id}/edit)
• Strict clippy lints - must pass validation