Why can't I import module from different file in same directory? [duplicate]

Answer 1

What's happening is that when you try to import decoders::Decoders in image.rs, you need to go through the next level up, because using this:

mod decoders

use decoders::Decoders

Means that decoders will now be "owned" or under image, which is impossible since only lib.rs, mod.rs or main.rs files can have modules in other files. So, to fix this, you can either change your file structure to this:

src
    main.rs
    image
        mod.rs
        decoder.rs

Or, use this in main.rs:

mod decoders;
mod image;

and this in image.rs:

use super::decoders::Decoders;
//Or alternatively
use crate::decoders::Decoders;

Also, to fix your nested-mod problem, do the following in decoders.rs:

//Your code, no `mod Decoders`

and the following where you have your mod decoders statement:

#[your_attribs]
mod decoders;

Answer 2

The rust compiler resolves modules differently depending on where they're defined.

When you use the mod keyword to declare an external module from the crate entry point (typically main.rs or lib.rs) or from a module root (mod.rs), the compiler will search for files adjacent to the declaring file. This is why it works properly when using mod image.rs in your main.rs file.

In other cases, the compiler will search for files in the folder with the same name as the declaring file. In your case, this means that your mod decoders; line in image.rs results in the compiler searching for the module in the image subfolder - specifically checking image/decoders.rs and image/decoders/mod.rs.

To fix this, you can either move decoders.rs to image/decoders.rs if you want to keep decoders as a submodule of image, or alternatively place mod decoders; in main.rs and leave the file where it is.