Dart is a client-optimized programming language for fast apps on multiple platforms. It is developed by Google and is used to build mobile, desktop, server, and web applications.
Dart Anti-Patterns Overview
Dart, despite being a modern and well-designed language, has several common anti-patterns that can lead to performance issues, maintenance problems, and bugs. Here are the most important anti-patterns to avoid when writing Dart code.
Not Using Null Safety
Always use Dart’s null safety features to prevent null reference exceptions. With sound null safety (Dart 2.12+), you can catch null reference errors at compile time rather than runtime.
Using Too Many Callbacks
Avoid excessive nesting of callbacks. Use async
/await
for more readable and maintainable asynchronous code.
Not Using const for Immutable Objects
Use const
constructors for immutable objects to improve performance by reusing instances rather than creating new ones each time.
Using setState() Excessively
Avoid calling setState()
multiple times in succession. Batch your state changes into a single setState()
call to reduce unnecessary rebuilds.
Not Using Key in Lists
Always use keys when building lists of widgets to help Flutter efficiently update the UI when the list changes.
Ignoring Future Results
Don’t ignore the results of Future
s. Either await
them and handle errors, or use .then()
and .catchError()
to process results and handle errors.
Using Dynamic Type Excessively
Avoid using dynamic
type excessively. Use specific types to catch errors at compile time and make your code more self-documenting.
Not Using Named Parameters for Clarity
Use named parameters for functions with multiple parameters to make your code more readable and self-documenting.
Not Using Late Initialization Properly
Be careful with late
initialization. Only use late
when you’re certain the variable will be initialized before it’s accessed.
Not Using Factory Constructors
Use factory constructors when you need to control instance creation, such as for caching or returning instances of subclasses.
Not Using Proper Stream Management
Always cancel stream subscriptions when they’re no longer needed to prevent memory leaks and unexpected behavior.
Not Using Proper Error Handling
Implement comprehensive error handling to make your code more robust. Handle specific exceptions separately and provide meaningful error messages.
Not Using Proper Dependency Injection
Use dependency injection to make your code more testable and flexible. Pass dependencies to classes rather than creating them internally.
Not Using Proper Code Organization
Organize your code into separate files and folders based on functionality. Follow a consistent project structure to make your codebase more maintainable.
Not Using Extension Methods
Use extension methods to add functionality to existing classes in a clean and type-safe way.
Not Using Proper State Management
Use proper state management solutions like Provider, Riverpod, Bloc, or GetX instead of passing data through deep widget trees.
Not Using Proper Immutability
Use immutable model classes with copyWith
methods to create modified copies instead of mutating objects directly.
Not Using Proper Code Generation
Use code generation for repetitive tasks like JSON serialization, immutable classes, and equality implementations.
Not Using Proper Widget Composition
Break down large widgets into smaller, reusable components to improve readability, maintainability, and testability.