Effective Dart: Documentation

1. Documenting APIs

• Use /// comments to document public APIs (classes, functions, variables) that are part of your library or package.

• Include a brief description of what the API does, along with any relevant details or constraints.

Example:

/// A class representing a user profile.
class UserProfile {
  String name;
  int age;

  /// Constructs a [UserProfile] with the given [name] and [age].
  UserProfile(this.name, this.age);

  /// Returns the user's name.
  String getName() {
    return name;
  }
}

2. Parameter and Return Value Documentation

• Document parameters and return values using @param and @return tags within /// comments.

• Describe the purpose of each parameter and what the function returns.

Example:

/// Adds [a] and [b] together and returns the result.
///
/// @param a The first number to add.
/// @param b The second number to add.
/// @return The sum of [a] and [b].
int addNumbers(int a, int b) {
  return a + b;
}

3. Use of Markdown

• Leverage Markdown syntax within documentation comments for formatting.

• Use Markdown to create headings, lists, links, and code blocks to improve readability.

Example:

/// ## Calculate Sum
///
/// This function calculates the sum of two numbers.
///
/// - [a]: The first number.
/// - [b]: The second number.
///
/// Returns the sum of [a] and [b].
int calculateSum(int a, int b) {
  return a + b;
}

Applying Effective Dart Documentation

Here's how you can incorporate Effective Dart documentation guidelines into your development workflow:

1. Consistency: Document all public APIs consistently throughout your codebase.

2. Use Tools: Leverage IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA or Visual Studio Code, which provide autocomplete and suggestions for documenting Dart code.

3. Review and Update: Regularly review and update documentation as code evolves to ensure accuracy and relevance.

4. Document Intent: Focus not just on what the code does, but also why certain decisions were made.