When a C project is shipped to other people, the hard part is often not whether the source builds. The hard part is the contract around it:
How is the tool installed into PATH?
Where do the headers and libraries go?
Which version should users link against?
Will an upgrade break existing code?
Does a public API change count as compatible?
Can the binary ABI remain stable over time?
Rust has the same questions, but the shipped object usually falls into one of three groups:
Rust for C Developers
Before delivering a C project, “it compiles” is not enough.
You still check:
whether release optimization is enabled
whether architecture and ABI match the target
whether linked libraries are target libraries or host libraries
whether the binary carries unnecessary symbols
whether runtime dynamic dependencies exist on the target
whether size fits device limits
whether crashes can still be symbolized
Rust delivery for CLI tools, system libraries, or C/Rust boundary artifacts has the same concerns. Cargo simplifies the build command, but it does not remove release checks.
Rust for C Developers