ClojureDart is an exciting new dialect of Clojure designed specifically to leverage the power of Flutter and the Dart ecosystem for building native mobile and desktop applications. This blog will walk you through how to get started with ClojureDart, enabling you to create applications efficiently and effectively.

What is ClojureDart?

ClojureDart combines the elegance of Clojure with the robust capabilities of Flutter, making development intuitive and enjoyable. It’s production-ready, meaning that applications are already being successfully built with it.

Funding and Support

The development of ClojureDart is spearheaded by Baptiste Dupuch and Christophe Grand. They have devoted considerable time to this project amidst their consultancy work. If you appreciate their efforts, consider supporting them:

• Sponsor: Individual or corporate sponsorship is invaluable.
• Contract: Seek their assistance for training, consultancy, or development needs.

Cheatsheet Available!

For a handy reference, check out the ClojureDart Cheatsheet, which covers the specifics of ClojureDart on one side and Flutter programming on the other.

Watch the Conj 2023 Talk and Demo

Curious about the workflow? The live coding session conducted during the ClojureConj 2023 event is a great starting point, requiring no prior knowledge of Dart or Flutter.

Your First ClojureDart App!

Ready to dive into app development? Below are the steps to create your first application with ClojureDart:

Prerequisites

You need to have Clojure and Flutter installed on your system. Make sure these tools are accessible via your terminal.

Step-by-step Guide

1. **Create a Project Directory**:

mkdir hellocd hello

2. **Setup Dependencies**: Create a deps.edn file with the following content:

cat > deps.edn << 'EOF'
:paths [src]
:deps {tensegritics/clojuredart {:git/url "https://github.com/tensegritics/ClojureDart.git" :sha "7b6b417a0feb83dd3070d5171f70b251bcbea7d6"}}
:aliases {:cljd {:main-opts ["-m" "cljd.build"]}
            :cljdopts {:kind :flutter}
                     :main acme.main}
EOF

3. **Initialize the Project**:

clj -M:cljd init

4. **Add Some Source Code**: Create a source directory and file for your application:

mkdir -p src/acme 
cat > src/acme/main.cljd << 'EOF'
(ns acme.main
  (:require [package:flutter/material.dart :as m]
            [cljd.flutter :as f]))

(defn main []
  (f/run
    (m/MaterialApp
      .title "Welcome to Flutter"
      .theme (m/ThemeData .primarySwatch m/Colors/pink))
      .home 
      (m/Scaffold 
        .appBar (m/AppBar 
                  .title (m/Text "Welcome to ClojureDart")))
        .body (m/Center 
                (m/Text "Let's get coding!" 
                  .style (m/TextStyle 
                            .color m/Colors/red 
                            .fontSize 32.0))))))
EOF

5. **Compile, Watch, and Run the App**:

clj -M:cljd flutter

This should spawn a desktop application in most environments. For more information, check the detailed guide here.

Running a Sample Project

To see a sample project in action, follow these steps:

1. Clone the ClojureDart repository:

git clone https://github.com/tensegritics/ClojureDart.git

2. Navigate to a sample, e.g., fab:

cd ClojureDart/samples/fab

3. Initialize the project:

clj -M:cljd init

4. Launch the watcher:

clj -M:cljd flutter

You can specify devices using the command flutter devices to find the target ID you need to pass to the watcher.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, first check that Clojure and Flutter are correctly installed and available in your terminal's path. Ensure that all dependencies in your deps.edn are accurately defined and updated. For additional insights, visit the Clojurians Slack channel or open an issue on the ClojureDart repository.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.