dart create
This guide describes how to use the dart create command to
create a Dart project.
Overview
#
The dart create command creates a Dart project,
using one of several supported templates.
The same functionality is available in IDEs.
When you run dart create, it first creates a directory with the
project files. Then it gets package dependencies
(unless you specify the --no-pub flag).
Create a basic Dart project
#
To create a basic Dart project, follow the dart create command
with the name of your project. In the following example,
a directory named my_cli that contains a
simple console app (the default template) is created:
$ dart create my_cli
Specify a template
#
To use a different template, use the -t (or --template)
flag followed by the template name:
$ dart create -t web my_web_app
The -t flag allows you to specify which type of Dart project
you want to create. If you don't specify a template, dart create
uses the console template by default.
Available templates
#
The following table shows the templates you can use with the
-t flag:
| Template | Description |
|---|---|
cli |
A command-line application with basic argument parsing using
package:args
.
|
console | A command-line application (default template). |
package | A package containing shared Dart libraries. |
server-shelf |
A server built using shelf. |
web | A web app built using core Dart libraries. |
These templates result in a file structure that follows package layout conventions.
Additional options
#
Additionally, you can perform the following actions with
the dart create command.
Force project creation
#
If the specified directory already exists, dart create fails.
You can force project generation with the --force flag:
$ dart create --force <DIRECTORY>
Get help
#For further information on command-line options, use the --help flag:
$ dart create --help
Unless stated otherwise, the documentation on this site reflects Dart 3.9.2. Page last updated on 2025-9-4. View source or report an issue.