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Dart (programming language)

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Dart (programming language)
NameDart
ParadigmMulti-paradigm: functional, imperative, object-oriented, reflective
DesignerLars Bak and Kasper Lund
DeveloperGoogle
Latest release version3.5.1
Latest release date19 November 2024
TypingStatic, inferred, strong
Influenced byC#, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, Smalltalk, Erlang
InfluencedCarbon
Operating systemCross-platform
LicenseBSD
Websitehttps://dart.dev

Dart (programming language). Dart is a client-side programming language developed by Google, designed for building web, server, desktop, and mobile applications. It is best known as the primary language for the Flutter framework, which is used to create natively compiled applications for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web from a single codebase. The language emphasizes fast execution, productive development, and a sound type system, aiming to be a versatile solution for modern app development.

History

Dart was unveiled by Google at the GOTO conference in Aarhus, Denmark in October 2011, with its original architects being Lars Bak and Kasper Lund. The initial focus was on replacing JavaScript as the primary language for web browsers, with the first version of the Dart virtual machine integrated into the Google Chrome browser. Following mixed reception for this web-centric goal, the project pivoted in 2015 with the announcement of Dart 2, which shifted emphasis toward ahead-of-time compilation for native mobile and server-side applications. This strategic change culminated in the 2018 release of Flutter 1.0, which established Dart as a cornerstone for cross-platform development. Subsequent major releases, like Dart 3 in 2023, introduced foundational features like sound null safety and expanded capabilities for concurrent computing.

Design

Dart is designed as a object-oriented, class-based language with C-style syntax, supporting concepts like single inheritance and mixin-based composition. Its architecture centers on a just-in-time (JIT) compiler for fast development cycles and an ahead-of-time (AOT) compiler for producing optimized native code, which is critical for Flutter apps. The language employs a sound type system that combines static typing with type inference, ensuring runtime type safety. Key design goals include consistent performance across all platforms, high developer productivity through features like isolates for concurrency instead of shared-memory threads, and seamless interoperability with existing code, particularly JavaScript for web targets.

Syntax

The syntax of Dart is deliberately familiar to programmers experienced with languages like C#, Java, and JavaScript. A basic program defines a `main()` function as the entry point, and uses curly braces to delineate blocks of code. It supports modern syntax features such as arrow functions for concise expressions, string interpolation, collection literals for lists and maps, and spread operators. Control flow uses standard constructs like `if`/`else`, `for` loops, and `switch` statements. With the introduction of Dart 3, the syntax was extended to include comprehensive pattern matching and records, aligning it with developments in languages like Swift and Rust.

Libraries and tools

The core Dart platform includes a rich set of libraries, known as the Dart Standard Library, which provides essentials for asynchronous programming (Future and Stream), collections, and file system access. The primary software development kit is the Dart SDK, which bundles the compilers, the Dart VM, and the package manager Pub. The official integrated development environment support is provided through plugins for Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA (including Android Studio). For building and deploying applications, developers use the Flutter command-line tools or the dart compile command, which can target x86-64, ARM, WebAssembly, and other instruction set architectures.

Applications

The most prominent application of Dart is within the Flutter framework, used by organizations like Alibaba Group, BMW, and eBay to build their mobile and desktop applications. Beyond Flutter, Dart is used for scalable server-side applications, often with frameworks like Aqueduct or Shelf, and can run on platforms like Google Cloud Platform. It is also used for scripting and tooling, such as within the Firebase command-line interface, and for creating web applications when compiled to JavaScript via the dart2js compiler. This versatility allows a single codebase to target iOS, Android, Windows, and the web.

Reception and adoption

Initial reception of Dart was skeptical, particularly regarding its goal to supplant JavaScript in the web browser, with critics from the Mozilla Foundation and others questioning the need for a new language. Adoption and perception shifted dramatically with the success of the Flutter framework, which garnered positive reviews from developers for its performance and developer experience. The language's consistent ranking in surveys like the Stack Overflow Developer Survey and the rise of major applications built with Flutter have solidified its position in the cross-platform development landscape. Ongoing development under the oversight of Ecma International through the ECMA-408 standard ensures its evolution as an open standard.

Category:Dart (programming language) Category:Google software Category:Programming languages