data_class_plugin 1.0.3

A tool that uses Dart's Analyzer to generate code on-the-fly.

Data Class Plugin

Data Class Plugin code generator powered by Tachyon.

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Table of contents

• How it works
• Installation
• Generate the code you want
  • DataClass Annotation
  • Union Annotation
  • Enum Annotation
  • Enums
• Configuration
  • Configuration file
  • Available options
  • Configuration examples
• Notes
• Examples
• Development
• Known Issues

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How it works

Data Class Plugin uses Tachyon as it's build engine to provide fast code generation. Also this plugin uses the analyzer system and analyzer plugin to get access on the source code, parse it and provide code actions based on that.

These code actions are similar to the ones provide by the language - e.g. wrap with try/catch - so you don't need to rely on snippets or manually typing any boilerplate code.

Installation

1. In your project's pubspec.yaml add

   dependencies:
     data_class_plugin: any
   
   dev_dependencies:
     tachyon: any
   

2. Create tachyon_config.yaml on the project's root folder

   file_generation_paths: # which files/paths to include for build
     - "file/path/to/watch"
     - "another/one"
   
   generated_file_line_length: 80 # default line length
   
   plugins:
     - data_class_plugin # register data_class_plugin
   

3. Update your analysis_options.yaml (to enable code action)

   Minimal analysis_options.yaml

   include: package:lints/recommended.yaml
   
   # You need to register the plugin under analyzer > plugins
   analyzer:
     plugins:
       - data_class_plugin
   

4. Restart the analysis server

   VSCode

   1. Open the Command Palette
      1. Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + P
      2. MacOS: ⌘ + Shift + P
   2. Type and select "Dart: Restart Analysis Server"

   IntelliJ

   1. Open Find Action
      1. Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + A
      2. MacOS: ⌘ + Shift + A
   2. Type and select "Restart Dart Analysis Server"

Generate the code you want!

DataClass Annotation

1. Create a simple class, annotate it with @DataClass() and provide abstract getter fields for your model.

   @DataClass()
   class User {
      String get id;
      String get username;
   }
   

2. Run code actions on your IDE

   VSCode

   1. Windows/Linux: Ctrl + .
   2. MacOS: ⌘ + .

   Intellij

   1. Windows/Linux: Alt + Enter
   2. MacOS: ⌘ + Enter

3. Select Generate data/union classes

This will generate all the boilerplate code on the source file.

Hint: Fields declared with final (e.g. final String id;) will be automatically coverters to abstract getters.

Now to generate the part file code (part directive inserted by the code action) you need to run tachyon.

Executing tachyon:

dart run tachyon build

See more options about tachyon by executing: dart run tachyon --help

Note: As you can see on the screenshot @DataClass annotations provides a variety of options to choose from. While this is ok, in many cases you might prefer to set these options on path match or project level.

Check Configuration section to find more option about data_class_plugin_options.yaml

Union Annotation

Adding this annotation to a class enables it to create union types.

This configuration can be overriden in data_class_plugin_options.yaml, see Configuration.

Enum Annotation

1. Create an enumeration with the last field closed by semicolon and annotate it with the @Enum() annotation.

   @Enum()
   enum Category {
      science,
      sports;
   }
   

2. Select Generate enum

This configuration can be overriden in data_class_plugin_options.yaml, see Configuration.

Enums

Even if you don't use the @Enum() annotation, you can still generate methods in enums.

1. Create an enumeration with the last field closed by semicolon

   enum Category {
      science,
      sports;
   }
   

2. Place the cursor anywhere inside the Category enum

3. Run code actions on your IDE

4. A list with the following actions will be displayed

   1. Generate constructor
   2. Generate 'fromJson'
   3. Generate 'toJson'
   4. Generate 'toString'

Enums can have an optional single field of primitive type to be used in the fromJson or toJson transforms, if not provided then the .name is used as the default json value.

enum Category {
   science(0),
   sports(1);

   final int value;
}

Json Converters

The plugin exposes a json converter registrant that be used through out the app to register your custom converters. This eliminates the need to annotate every single field with a custom converter like (json_serializable).

By default the plugin provides 3 converters for the following classes: Duration, DateTime, Uri.
In case you want to override the default implementation of these converters you can do it by registering your custom converter with jsonConverterRegistrant.register(const MyCustomConverter()). For more info on how to create and register a converter, see this example

In case you want to provide a custom implementation for a single field that might contain complex logic for parsing/conversion you can use a JsonConverter implementation and annotate the specific field with the implementer class. See example on ClassWithLatLngConverterAnnotation class.

If implementing a JsonConverter is too complex for your case you can use the JsonKey fromJson/toJson functions.

Configuration

You can customize the generated code produced by Data Class Plugin.

Configuration file

To create a custom configuration you need to add a file named data_class_plugin_options.yaml in the root folder of your project.

Available options

1. json

   Set the default naming convention for json keys.

   You can also override the default naming convention for the specified directories.

   Supported naming conventions: camelCase, snake_case, kebab-case & PascalCase.

2. data_class

   Set the default values for the provided methods of the @DataClass annotation, by specifying the directories where they will be enabled or disabled.

3. union

   Set the default values for the provided methods of the @Union annotation, by specifying the directories where they will be enabled or disabled.

4. enum

   Set the default values for the provided methods of the @Enum annotation, by specifying the directories where they will be enabled or disabled.

Configuration supported values

json:
  # Default naming convention for json keys
  key_name_convention: camel_case (default) | snake_case | kebab_case | pascal_case

  # Maps naming conventions to globs
  # You can provide a map of all the conventions you need and then a list with all the globs
  # key_name_conventions glob match takes precedence over key_name_convention
  key_name_conventions:
    <camel_case | snake_case | kebab_case | pascal_case>:
      - "a/glob/here"
      - "another/glob/here"

data_class:
  options_config:
    # For each of the provided methods you can provide a configuration
    # The configuration can be an enabled or disabled field that contains a list of globs
    # Default values for each options
    # copy_with (true), hash_and_equals (true), to_string (true), from_json (false),to_json (false), unmodifiable_collections (true)
    <copy_with | hash_and_equals | to_string | from_json | to_json | unmodifiable_collections>:
      default: boolean # default value is there is no match in enabled or disabled lists
      enabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"
      disabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"

union:
  options_config:
    # For each of the provided methods you can provide a configuration
    # The configuration can be an enabled or disabled field that contains a list of globs
    # Default values for each options
    # copy_with (false), hash_and_equals (true), to_string (true)  from_json(false), to_json (false), unmodifiable_collections (true), when (true)
    <copy_with | hash_and_equals | to_string | from_json | to_json | unmodifiable_collections | when>:
      default: boolean # default value is there is no match in enabled or disabled lists
      enabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"
      disabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"

enum:
  options_config:
    # For each of the provided methods you can provide a configuration
    # The configuration can be an enabled or disabled field that contains a list of globs
    # Default values for each options
    # to_string (false), from_json(false), to_json (false)
    <to_string | from_json | to_json>:
      default: boolean # default value is there is no match in enabled or disabled lists
      enabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"
      disabled: # list of globs
        - "a/glob/here"
        - "another/glob/here"

Notes

If the generated method doesn't exist it will be placed in the end of the class/enum body (before }), otherwise it will be re-generated to be up-to-date with current snapshot of the code (fields, annotations configuration).

The constructor is always generated at the start of the body (after {) for classes.

class MyClass {
  // constructor will be generated here

  final int a;
}

The constructor is always generated after the semicolon (;) in the values declaration for enums.

enum MyEnum {
  a,
  b,
  c;

  // constructor will be generated here
}

Examples

You can find a variety of examples in the examples folder and the source code from the Live Demo, as it was presented in the Flutter Greek Community, here.

Development

In order to see your changes in the plugin you need to modify tools/analyzer_plugin/pubspec.yaml and add the following section:

dependency_overrides:
  data_class_plugin:
    path: /absolute/path/to/root_project

And restart the analysis server (in case that fails run pub_get.sh).

Known Issues

1. When using IntelliJ/Android Studio the $toString parameter of the @DataClass annotation is not visible in the Suggestions list. However, you can still use it by typing it.