Dart vs flutter: Which one should I learn first?

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Key takeaways:

• Learning Dart first gives you a solid foundation, making it easier to build efficient Flutter apps.

• If you prefer hands-on learning, start with Flutter and pick up Dart concepts as you build real-world projects.

If you’re interested in learning Flutter, then you will inevitably encounter Dart, the programming language used to write Flutter applications. In other words, if Dart is the language, then Flutter is the UI toolkit that uses it. 

However, many beginners get confused about whether to familiarize themselves with Dart before or after learning Flutter. The short answer is: Dart first, Flutter second. Let’s explore “why” in detail.

Dart vs. Flutter: Key differences#

While Dart is a programming language used to build Flutter applications, Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit created by Google. It’s primarily used for creating cross-platform mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase. Flutter’s framework is built on top of Dart, utilizing predesigned widgets, tools, and libraries to create responsive UIs.

Dart is the only language used in Flutter development, making them a package deal even if you’re trying to avoid learning a new programming language. However, this has advantages because you won’t need to switch between multiple languages when working on different layers of an application. Everything from UI design to application logic is written in Dart.

Widgets#

Flutter’s widgets, written in Dart, are its core building blocks. Common examples include the Text, Row, Column, and Container widgets. The screen’s view, configuration, and state depend on these widgets and their sequence, enabling developers to create the entire Flutter UI.

State management#

State management in Flutter is done using Dart and involves managing the state of your application—in other words, the data that influences the UI and its interactions. The UI comprises widgets, which can either be mutable or immutable. 

There are two types of states: the ephemeral state (local state) and the app state (global state). The ephemeral state is only used in a small part of the app and can be managed directly using the StatefulWidget and State classes. Meanwhile, the app state is shared across various app parts and requires a sturdy state management solution.

Animation and gestures#

Dart manages animations and gestures in Flutter, making the animation system flexible and efficient in handling complex motion graphics. The AnimationController class controls animations, establishing their progression and managing their life cycle. Flutter’s animations and gestures enhance user experience with dynamic transitions and interactions.

Learning Dart: Where to begin?  #

Before starting with Dart, you should ask yourself two questions to guide you as you progress in your learning journey. 

Are you a beginner in programming?#

Whether you are familiar with other programming languages or not will significantly affect your beginner experience with Dart. This is because Dart has C-style syntax, similar to other programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, C#, and Python. So, if you are familiar with any of these, Dart will not be as challenging to learn as a beginner. 

Moreover, Dart is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language similar to Java, C#, and C++, so if you have experience with these and their concepts like classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism, applying these in Dart will be easy. 

However, even if you are a complete beginner to programming, learning Dart is not impossible. Dart is a programming language known for its simplicity and accessibility, emphasized by its general learning time of two to three months. 

Are you familiar with another framework or library? #

Being familiar with other frameworks or libraries, particularly those related to UI, web, and mobile app development, can give you a leg up when you start learning Dart. 

This is because most frameworks and libraries share common programming concepts such as state management, event handling, routing, etc. Because of their similar patterns, basic knowledge of frameworks like React, SwiftUI, or Kotlin will help you grasp Dart and Flutter.   

Dart and Flutter’s approach to building user interfaces is similar, especially with their widget-based architecture. Understanding how to compose UIs from reusable components is helpful. 

What to know before starting Flutter#

Besides learning Dart, there are some other basics you should be familiar with before starting to use Flutter. These factors will help you understand why Flutter is relevant in cross-platform application development. 

Understanding OOP#

Before starting to learn Flutter, grasp the core fundamentals of object-oriented programming (OOP) because it relies heavily on OOP principles to structure and manage the code you will be writing and working on. 

Flutter widget system is OOP-based, and some OOP knowledge will allow you to build custom widgets. Moreover, OOP principles such as encapsulation allow you to maintain a clean and organized codebase in Flutter, an important aspect when building complex UIs. 

Having an idea of mixins and abstract classes, which are advanced OOP features, will aid in reusing code across multiple classes without using inheritance. Many of the design patterns used in Flutter are also based on OOP principles. 

Basics of software development #

Foundational software development knowledge is crucial before starting with Flutter because that is the only way to lay out a pathway to grasp advanced concepts and practices. 

• Core programming concepts such as variables, data types, loops, and control structures form the building blocks of any software application. In Flutter, you will use them to manipulate data, build UI, and control the overall flow of your application. 

• The software development life cycle (SDLC) involves the planning and design phase, where the software design is decided, including requirements gathering, system design, and UI design. The next stage is testing and debugging, which are core software development skills. Flutter provides various debugging tools that need a basic understanding before use. 

• Algorithm design is one key to solving problems effectively in software development, especially those related to performance; sorting data, collecting information, and optimizing processes are all included. 

• UI/UX principles include UI design, which involves layout design, color theory, and user experience. Responsive design is another element that involves designing responsive interfaces with different screen sizes and orientations. 

Familiarity with IDEs (integrated development environments) #

IDEs like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, or Android Studio are designed to make coding efficient and offer code completion, syntax highlighting, and code navigation features. Knowing how these features work beforehand will allow you to concentrate on learning Flutter instead of writing and managing code. 

In addition, IDEs play a big role in project file management and in helping keep directories organized. Managing and navigating files within IDE keeps the workflow streamlined and avoids confusion, especially in larger Flutter projects where you will most likely handle various Dart files and assets simultaneously. 

Debugging tools hold a lot of weight in IDEs, and being able to set breakpoints, step through code, inspect variables, and view call stacks is critical to know as a developer working on applications. Developing complex UI layouts will require extensive debugging, and in Flutter, knowing these basics will allow for a more efficient process. 

Flutter vs. other cross-platform frameworks#

While Flutter stands out for its high-performance rendering and comprehensive widget library, it’s helpful to understand how it compares to other cross-platform frameworks. React Native, for example, offers a vast ecosystem due to its use of JavaScript but may struggle with performance in complex UIs. Xamarin, backed by Microsoft, integrates well with the .NET environment but requires more setup. SwiftUI, Apple's native UI toolkit, offers seamless integration with iOS but is limited to Apple devices. Flutter, on the other hand, provides a single codebase for mobile, web, and desktop platforms, making it versatile and efficient for cross-platform development.

Real-world Flutter project examples and ideas for beginners#

To reinforce your understanding of Dart and Flutter, start building real-world projects. For beginners, try a to-do app, which introduces state management. As you advance, develop a weather app that fetches data from an API, teaching you about asynchronous programming in Dart. Reflectly, a journaling app built with Flutter, demonstrates how Flutter’s widget-based UI system can create engaging designs. These projects not only solidify concepts but also serve as portfolio pieces, showcasing your skills to potential employers.

Final words#

Dart is a popular mainstream programming language for good reason; its association with Flutter allows it to be the backbone of an accessible and efficient framework for writing applications. Learning Dart and Flutter as a developer is sure to help you gain the ability to create dynamic and innovative applications, pushing forward the industry standard.