What is Dart?
Dart is a programming language made by Google. It is built to create fast, portable apps for mobile, web, and server environments. Dart can run directly on a device or be turned into JavaScript for browsers.
Let's break it down
- Programming language: a set of rules that tell a computer what to do.
- Made by Google: created and maintained by the big tech company Google.
- Fast, portable apps: programs that run quickly and can work on many different devices without being rewritten.
- Mobile, web, and server: the three main places apps run - phones/tablets, browsers, and computers that provide services.
- Runs directly or turns into JavaScript: Dart can be compiled to native machine code for speed, or converted to JavaScript so it works in any web browser.
Why does it matter?
Because Dart lets developers write one codebase and deploy it everywhere, saving time and effort. Its performance and modern features make it a strong choice for building smooth, responsive user experiences.
Where is it used?
- Building iOS and Android apps with Flutter.
- Creating interactive web applications that run in the browser.
- Writing server-side services and APIs with the Dart VM.
- Developing command-line tools and scripts for automation.
Good things about it
- Single codebase works on mobile, web, and server.
- Hot reload in Flutter speeds up development and testing.
- Optional static typing catches errors early while still being flexible.
- Compiles to fast native code and to JavaScript for broad compatibility.
- Comes with a rich standard library for common tasks.
Not-so-good things
- Smaller community and fewer third-party packages compared to languages like JavaScript or Java.
- Some niche libraries or frameworks are missing or less mature.
- Developers new to object-oriented programming may need extra learning time.
- Tooling, while improving, can still feel less polished than more established ecosystems.