What is this?
hyper is an HTTP library for Rust. It ships both client and server APIs, supporting HTTP/1 and HTTP/2.
Is this a framework I would build an app on, or something lower-level?
It is a library, not a framework — deliberately low-level and meant to be a building block for other libraries and applications.
How do I get started with it?
The README's starting point is its guides; in practice you add hyper as a dependency in your Cargo.toml and follow them.
Do I need anything besides Rust to use it?
Just the Rust toolchain — hyper is a Cargo crate, and the README names no other prerequisites such as system libraries or services.
Should I use hyper directly, or is there something friendlier on top of it?
Often the latter: the README suggests reqwest for a convenient client and axum or warp for a server, both built on top of hyper. Pick hyper itself when you need low-level control.
Would I use this as an application developer, or is it mainly for library authors?
Both: application developers who need HTTP in Rust, and framework or library authors who want a proven low-level foundation to build on.
Can I use it in commercial projects?
Yes — hyper is provided under the MIT license, so it is free for personal and commercial use.
Why does the asynchronous design matter?
Async I/O lets a single process juggle very large numbers of connections without a thread each — the mechanism behind hyper's leading-performance claim.
Is it battle-tested for production?
Yes — the README cites extensive production use, describes the library as tested and correct, and claims leading performance.
Is hyper still actively maintained?
Yes — the project dates to 2014, has over 16,000 GitHub stars, and its repository runs CI, benchmark, and cargo-audit workflows.
Which topics is it in?
web-server, http-client, protocol, low-level, async, http, benchmark, developers, backend, networking, performance, rust