Getting Started with Rust (Part 5): Rust Macros on the AI/ML project examples

Rust’s macro system is a powerful feature that enables meta-programming, allowing developers to write code that generates other code.

In the context of AI and machine learning projects, macros can be particularly useful for tasks such as data preprocessing, model configuration, and performance optimization.

This article will bring you closer to the concept of macros in Rust, providing AI/ML-related examples and detailed (hopefully) explanations.

Introduction to Rust Macros

Macros in Rust are sophisticated metaprogramming tools that expand code at compile time. They come in two primary categories:

• Declarative macros (using `macro_rules!`)
• Procedural macros, which include:
  — Custom `#[derive]` macros
  — Attribute-like macros
  — Function-like macros

Let’s start with a schema for declarative macro with explanation:

macro_rules! macro_name {
    // Rule 1: Pattern and expansion
    ($arg:expr) => {
        // Expansion code that is generated when this pattern is matched
        println!("Argument: {}", $arg);
    };

    // Rule 2: Multiple patterns can be specified
    ($arg1:expr, $arg2:expr) => {
        // Different…