A comprehensive guide to building and distributing CLI tools using Dart. Covers foundational concepts (stdout/stderr/stdin, exit codes, environment variables, file I/O, process spawning), then walks through three progressively complex CLIs: a basic command dispatcher, a terminal task manager with JSON persistence using the args package, and a lightweight HTTP request runner. Concludes with five distribution strategies: pub.dev, local path activation, compiled binaries via GitHub Releases, Homebrew taps, and Docker.
Table of contents
Table of ContentsPrerequisitesWhat is a CLI and Why Should You Build One?CLI Syntax AnatomyHow Dart Receives Terminal InputCore CLI Concepts in DartSetting Up Your Dart CLI ProjectCLI 1 — Hello CLI: The FundamentalsCLI 2 — dart_todo: A Terminal Task ManagerCLI 3 — dart_http: A Lightweight API Request RunnerAdding Color and Polish to Your CLITesting Your CLI ToolDeploying and Distributing Your CLIChoosing the Right Distribution ModeConclusionSort: