Why Flutter Uses Dart

Wm Leler explains why Flutter uses Dart:

Here is a quick list of the Dart features that together make it indispensable for Flutter:

• Dart is AOT (Ahead Of Time) compiled to fast, predictable, native code, which allows almost all of Flutter to be written in Dart. This not only makes Flutter fast, virtually everything (including all the widgets) can be customized.
• Dart can also be JIT (Just In Time) compiled for exceptionally fast development cycles and game-changing workflow (including Flutter’s popular sub-second stateful hot reload).
• Dart makes it easier to create smooth animations and transitions that run at 60fps. Dart can do object allocation and garbage collection without locks. And like JavaScript, Dart avoids preemptive scheduling and shared memory (and thus locks). Because Flutter apps are compiled to native code, they do not require a slow bridge between realms (e.g., JavaScript to native). They also start up much faster.
• Dart allows Flutter to avoid the need for a separate declarative layout language like JSX or XML, or separate visual interface builders, because Dart’s declarative, programmatic layout is easy to read and visualize. And with all the layout in one language and in one place, it is easy for Flutter to provide advanced tooling that makes layout a snap.
• Developers have found that Dart is particularly easy to learn because it has features that are familiar to users of both static and dynamic languages.

Not all of these features are unique to Dart, but the combination of them hits a sweet spot that makes Dart uniquely powerful for implementing Flutter. So much so, it is hard to imagine Flutter being as powerful as it is without Dart.

Read Leler’s full article on Medium.