Multi-Crate Workspaces

Real robotics projects outgrow a single crate quickly. You need shared message types that your driver, controller, and main binary all depend on. You need a hardware abstraction layer that multiple nodes consume. You need algorithm libraries that evolve independently from your application logic.

Workspaces let you split your project into multiple crates that compile together, share dependencies, and reference each other directly — without publishing anything to a registry.

Why Workspaces

A single-crate project works fine for prototypes, but production robotics code benefits from separation:

• Shared message types — Define sensor readings, commands, and state once. Every crate imports them
• Driver abstraction — Isolate hardware-specific code behind traits. Swap real hardware for simulation without touching application logic
• Algorithm libraries — PID controllers, path planners, and SLAM modules become reusable across projects
• Faster compilation — Only changed crates recompile. Your message types crate rarely changes, so it compiles once
• Clear ownership — Each crate has a focused purpose. Code review and testing stay manageable

Creating a Workspace

horus new my-robot --workspace -r

This generates a workspace scaffold with a single binary member:

my-robot/
├── horus.toml              # [workspace] members = ["crates/*"]
├── .horus/
│   ├── Cargo.toml          # Generated workspace Cargo.toml
│   └── my-robot/
│       └── Cargo.toml      # Generated member Cargo.toml
└── crates/
    └── my-robot/
        ├── horus.toml      # [package] name = "my-robot"
        └── src/
            └── main.rs

The root horus.toml defines workspace-level settings. Each member under crates/ has its own horus.toml for package-specific configuration.

Adding Library Members

Add library crates alongside your binary:

cd my-robot
horus new messages --lib -r -o crates
horus new driver --lib -r -o crates

Your workspace now looks like this:

my-robot/
├── horus.toml
├── .horus/
└── crates/
    ├── messages/
    │   ├── horus.toml
    │   └── src/
    │       └── lib.rs
    ├── driver/
    │   ├── horus.toml
    │   └── src/
    │       └── lib.rs
    └── my-robot/
        ├── horus.toml
        └── src/
            └── main.rs

Workspace horus.toml Format

The root horus.toml defines workspace membership and shared dependencies:

# Root horus.toml
[workspace]
members = ["crates/*"]
exclude = ["crates/experimental"]

[workspace.dependencies]
horus_library = "0.1.9"
serde = { version = "1.0", source = "crates.io", features = ["derive"] }
nalgebra = { version = "0.33", source = "crates.io" }

members accepts glob patterns. "crates/*" includes every directory under crates/.

exclude removes specific directories from the glob match. Useful for in-progress crates that should not build with the rest of the workspace.

[workspace.dependencies] centralizes version and source declarations. Members inherit these without repeating version numbers.

Member horus.toml Format

Each member declares its own package metadata and dependencies:

# crates/messages/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot-messages"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "lib"

[dependencies]
serde = { workspace = true }

The workspace = true marker tells horus to pull the version, source, and features from the root [workspace.dependencies] table.

Target Types

The type field in a member's [package] table controls what gets built:

# A crate that is both a library and a binary
[package]
name = "my-robot-driver"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "both"

Dependency Inheritance

When a member uses workspace = true, it inherits the version, source, and features from the root [workspace.dependencies]:

# Root horus.toml
[workspace.dependencies]
serde = { version = "1.0", source = "crates.io", features = ["derive"] }

# crates/messages/horus.toml
[dependencies]
serde = { workspace = true }
# Inherits: version = "1.0", source = "crates.io", features = ["derive"]

Members can add extra features on top of the inherited ones:

# crates/driver/horus.toml
[dependencies]
serde = { workspace = true, features = ["alloc"] }
# Gets "derive" from workspace + "alloc" from this member

This keeps version management in one place. Bump serde once in the root, and every member picks up the change.

Inter-Member Dependencies

Members reference each other with path dependencies:

# crates/controller/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot-controller"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "lib"

[dependencies]
my-robot-messages = { path = "../messages" }
my-robot-driver = { path = "../driver" }
horus_library = { workspace = true }

Path dependencies resolve relative to the member's directory. The build system handles everything — no publishing or installation required.

Building and Running

Workspace-level commands operate on all members:

horus build                    # Build all members
horus build -p messages        # Build specific member
horus run -p my-robot          # Run specific binary
horus test                     # Test all members
horus test -p driver           # Test specific member

Native cargo commands also work through the generated build files:

cargo build --workspace        # Build everything via native toolchain
cargo test --workspace         # Test everything
cargo clippy --workspace       # Lint everything

Generated Build Files

Horus generates native build files in .horus/ from your horus.toml declarations. You should never edit these directly:

.horus/
├── Cargo.toml              # [workspace] with members list
├── my-robot-messages/
│   └── Cargo.toml          # [lib] pointing to ../../crates/messages/src/
├── my-robot-driver/
│   └── Cargo.toml          # [lib] pointing to ../../crates/driver/src/
├── my-robot-controller/
│   └── Cargo.toml          # [lib] pointing to ../../crates/controller/src/
├── my-robot/
│   └── Cargo.toml          # [[bin]] pointing to ../../crates/my-robot/src/
└── target/                 # Shared build artifacts for all members

The generated Cargo.toml files point back to your source directories. All members share a single target/ directory, so common dependencies compile once.

Running horus build regenerates these files if your horus.toml has changed, then invokes cargo against the .horus/ workspace.

Example: Complete Robotics Workspace

Here is a realistic project structure for an autonomous robot:

my-robot/
├── horus.toml
└── crates/
    ├── messages/           # Shared types
    │   ├── horus.toml
    │   └── src/lib.rs
    ├── driver/             # Hardware abstraction
    │   ├── horus.toml
    │   └── src/lib.rs
    ├── controller/         # Algorithms
    │   ├── horus.toml
    │   └── src/lib.rs
    └── my-robot/           # Main binary
        ├── horus.toml
        └── src/main.rs

messages crate

Define sensor readings and commands that every other crate shares:

// crates/messages/src/lib.rs
use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};

#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
pub struct LaserScan {
    pub ranges: Vec<f32>,
    pub angle_min: f32,
    pub angle_max: f32,
    pub range_max: f32,
}

#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
pub struct CmdVel {
    pub linear_x: f64,
    pub angular_z: f64,
}

#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
pub struct Odometry {
    pub x: f64,
    pub y: f64,
    pub theta: f64,
}

# crates/messages/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot-messages"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "lib"

[dependencies]
serde = { workspace = true }

driver crate

Abstract hardware behind traits so you can swap real sensors for simulated ones:

// crates/driver/src/lib.rs
use my_robot_messages::{CmdVel, LaserScan, Odometry};

pub trait LidarDriver: Send + Sync {
    fn scan(&self) -> LaserScan;
}

pub trait MotorDriver: Send + Sync {
    fn send_velocity(&self, cmd: &CmdVel);
    fn read_odometry(&self) -> Odometry;
}

# crates/driver/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot-driver"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "lib"

[dependencies]
my-robot-messages = { path = "../messages" }

controller crate

Implement algorithms that depend on message types and driver traits:

// crates/controller/src/lib.rs
use my_robot_messages::{CmdVel, LaserScan};

pub struct ObstacleAvoider {
    pub min_distance: f32,
    pub turn_speed: f64,
}

impl ObstacleAvoider {
    pub fn compute(&self, scan: &LaserScan) -> CmdVel {
        let closest = scan.ranges.iter().cloned().fold(f32::MAX, f32::min);
        if closest < self.min_distance {
            CmdVel { linear_x: 0.0, angular_z: self.turn_speed }
        } else {
            CmdVel { linear_x: 0.5, angular_z: 0.0 }
        }
    }
}

# crates/controller/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot-controller"
version = "0.1.0"
type = "lib"

[dependencies]
my-robot-messages = { path = "../messages" }

Main binary

Tie everything together with horus nodes:

// crates/my-robot/src/main.rs
use horus_library::prelude::*;
use my_robot_controller::ObstacleAvoider;
use my_robot_messages::{CmdVel, LaserScan};

fn main() -> Result<()> {
    let avoider = ObstacleAvoider {
        min_distance: 0.5,
        turn_speed: 1.0,
    };

    Scheduler::new()
        .add("lidar_node", |ctx| {
            let scan_pub: Publisher<LaserScan> = ctx.advertise("scan")?;
            // Read from hardware or simulation
            Ok(())
        })
        .add("controller", |ctx| {
            let scan_sub: Subscriber<LaserScan> = ctx.subscribe("scan")?;
            let cmd_pub: Publisher<CmdVel> = ctx.advertise("cmd_vel")?;
            // Use avoider.compute() to generate commands
            Ok(())
        })
        .build()?
        .run()
}

# crates/my-robot/horus.toml
[package]
name = "my-robot"
version = "0.1.0"

[dependencies]
horus_library = { workspace = true }
my-robot-messages = { path = "../messages" }
my-robot-controller = { path = "../controller" }

Root workspace configuration

# Root horus.toml
[workspace]
members = ["crates/*"]

[workspace.dependencies]
horus_library = "0.1.9"
serde = { version = "1.0", source = "crates.io", features = ["derive"] }

Build and run the whole project:

horus build                    # Compiles messages, driver, controller, then my-robot
horus run -p my-robot          # Runs the main binary
horus test                     # Tests all crates