DART Tutorial for Beginners (2024) | Learn Flutter Dart Programming in 4 Hours with Practical

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide for beginners looking to learn Dart programming, particularly in the context of Flutter development. Over the course of this tutorial, you will explore everything from installation and basic syntax to advanced concepts like object-oriented programming and asynchronous programming. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the skills to start building applications with Dart and Flutter.

Step 1: Install Dart

• Visit the official Dart website: dart.dev.
• Download the Dart SDK suitable for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• Follow the installation instructions specific to your OS.
• Verify the installation by running the command dart --version in your terminal or command prompt.

Step 2: Write Your First Dart Program

• Open your preferred text editor or IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code).
• Create a new file named hello.dart.
• Write the following code to print a message:

  void main() {
    print('Hello, Dart!');
  }
  

• Run the program in your terminal with the command dart hello.dart.

Step 3: Understand Basic Syntax

• Dart uses a C-style syntax, which is familiar to many programmers.
• Key points to remember:
  • Statements end with a semicolon.
  • Use curly braces {} to define blocks of code.
  • Main entry point of a Dart application is the main function.

Step 4: Use Comments

• Single-line comments: // This is a comment
• Multi-line comments:

  /*
  This is a multi-line comment
  */
  

• Comments are useful for explaining code and improving readability.

Step 5: Explore Data Types

• Dart provides several built-in data types:
  • Numbers: int, double
  • Strings: String
  • Booleans: bool
  • Lists: List
  • Sets: Set
  • Maps: Map
• Understanding these types will help you effectively manage data in your programs.

Step 6: Declare Variables

• Use var, final, or const to declare variables:
  • var name = 'John'; // Mutable variable
  • final age = 30; // Immutable variable, can be set only once
  • const pi = 3.14; // Compile-time constant

Step 7: Understand Operators

• Dart supports various operators:
  • Arithmetic: +, -, *, /
  • Comparison: ==, !=, <, >
  • Logical: &&, ||, !

Step 8: Work with Constants

• Use const or final to define constants in your code.
• Constants are useful for values that should not change throughout your program.

Step 9: Understand Integers and Strings

• Integers can be declared as:

  int a = 10;
  

• Strings can be single or double-quoted:

  String greeting = 'Hello, World!';
  

Step 10: Explore Collections

Lists

• Declare a list using:

  List<String> fruits = ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry'];
  

Sets

• Declare a set using:

  Set<int> numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4};
  

Maps

• Declare a map using:

  Map<String, int> scores = {'Alice': 90, 'Bob': 85};
  

Step 11: Conditional Statements

• Use if, else if, and else for conditional logic:

  if (condition) {
    // code
  } else {
    // code
  }
  

Step 12: Use Switch Case Statements

• Implement switch case for multiple conditions:

  switch (value) {
    case 1:
      // code
      break;
    case 2:
      // code
      break;
    default:
      // code
  }
  

Step 13: Understand Loops

• Use for, while, and do-while loops to iterate:

  for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    print(i);
  }
  

Step 14: Work with Boolean Values

• Boolean values can be true or false.
• Use them in conditions and logical operations.

Step 15: Create and Use Functions

• Define a function using:

  void myFunction() {
    // code
  }
  

Step 16: Explore Object-Oriented Concepts

Classes and Objects

• Define a class:

  class Person {
    String name;
    int age;
  
    Person(this.name, this.age);
  }
  

• Create an object:

  var person = Person('Alice', 30);
  

Constructors

• Use constructors for initializing objects.

The This Keyword

• Use this to refer to the current instance of the class.

Static Keyword

• Use static for class-level properties and methods.

Inheritance

• Extend classes to inherit properties and methods.

Super Constructors

• Use super to call the parent class's constructor.

Getters and Setters

• Define getters and setters for encapsulation.

Abstract Classes

• Use abstract classes for defining base behavior.

Step 17: Understand Exceptions

• Use try-catch blocks to handle exceptions.

  try {
    // code that may throw an exception
  } catch (e) {
    // handle exception
  }
  

Step 18: Explore Type Definitions and Generics

• Use type definitions for better code organization and readability.
• Generics allow you to define classes and methods with type parameters.

Step 19: Work with Async and Await

• Use async and await for asynchronous programming.

  Future<void> fetchData() async {
    // asynchronous code
  }
  

Conclusion

This tutorial has covered the essential concepts of Dart programming, from installation to advanced programming techniques. By practicing these steps, you will build a solid foundation in Dart and Flutter. Consider building small projects to apply what you’ve learned, and explore more advanced topics as you become comfortable with the basics. Happy coding!