connect method

@override Future connect({ Duration? timeout = const Duration(seconds: 5), })

connect let you connect to a network printer.

Sets TCP_NODELAY to disable Nagle's algorithm so small ESC/POS commands are sent immediately without waiting for more data.

Implementation

@override
Future connect({Duration? timeout = const Duration(seconds: 5)}) async {
  // Avoid opening multiple connections.
  if (isConnected) return;

  try {
    socket = await Socket.connect(
      printer.address,
      printer.port ?? 9100,
      timeout: timeout,
    );
    // Disable Nagle's algorithm — send ESC/POS commands immediately
    // instead of buffering them. Critical for small writes like status
    // queries and cut commands.
    socket!.setOption(SocketOption.tcpNoDelay, true);
  } catch (e) {
    socket = null;
    return Future.error('Failed to connect to ${printer.address}:${printer.port ?? 9100} — $e');
  }
}