Boost your coding efficiency with Mason: code template generation

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Mason?
3. Overview of Mason CLI
4. Installing Mason
5. Initializing a Mason Project
6. Creating a Brick Structure
7. Understanding Mason Variables
8. Adding a License and Readme File
9. Integrating the Brick into the Main Mason.yaml File
10. Testing and Generating the Brick
11. Adding the Brick Globally
12. Publishing the Brick
13. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to another live stream at Geeky Ants! In today's session, we have a returning speaker, Tanmay Kamakar, who will be talking about Core template generation using Mason. If You're a Flutter developer, this topic is especially for you. Tanmay is a Flutter enthusiast, co-organizer of Flutter Kolkata, and a Writer who also makes open-source contributions. So, if you're excited to learn about code generation with Mason, keep reading!

What is Mason?

Mason is an open-source code generation tool that uses custom templates called bricks. It simplifies the app development process by allowing developers to Create reusable templates for faster development. Created by Felix Angelov, a Flutter developer architect at Very Good Ventures and the mind behind the block library, Mason is a powerful tool for Flutter developers.

Overview of Mason CLI

The Mason CLI (Command Line Interface) provides a set of commands to Interact with Mason and manage the code generation process. With commands like mason init, mason make, and mason add global, developers can initialize a Mason project, create templates, and add them globally to use in different projects.

Installing Mason

To install Mason, you can use either pub or Homebrew. The basic installation command is Dart pub global activate mason. After installation, you can access Mason globally using the terminal.

Initializing a Mason Project

To initialize a Mason project, create a new folder and navigate to it using the terminal. Then, run mason init to create the necessary project files. This will generate a mason.yaml file, a mason.log file, and a .mason folder containing information about the installed bricks.

Creating a Brick Structure

To create a custom template using Mason, create a new folder called "bricks" inside the project directory. Inside the "bricks" folder, use the mason new block [name] command to create a brick. The brick represents the template and can have subfolders for different components, such as screens, widgets, and more.

Understanding Mason Variables

Mason uses the Mustache templating syntax to create and maintain complex templates. Variables are written inside double curly braces ({{ }}) and can be replaced with dynamic data. By defining variables in the .mason.yaml file and using them in the template files, developers can generate code with customizable values.

Adding a License and Readme File

To document the generated code and provide proper licensing, you can add a license file and a readme file to the brick. The license file should contain the license text, while the readme file can explain how to use the brick and provide additional information about the template.

Integrating the Brick into the Main Mason.yaml File

After creating the brick, you need to add it to the main mason.yaml file to make it accessible for generation. Edit the mason.yaml file and add the path to the brick folder under the bricks section. This step ensures that Mason recognizes and includes the brick in the code generation process.

Testing and Generating the Brick

To test and generate code from the brick template, use the mason make [brick_name] command. This command will create files and directories Based on the template structure defined in the brick. You can provide input values for variables defined in the brick to customize the generated code.

Adding the Brick Globally

To make the brick available globally for use in other projects, use the mason add global [brick_name] [path] command. This command adds the brick to the global Mason registry, allowing you to use it in any project without specifying the local path.

Publishing the Brick

If you want to share your brick with the community, you can publish it on BrickHub.dev, a platform similar to Pub.dev. Publishing your brick allows other developers to discover and use your template in their projects, contributing to the Flutter community.

Conclusion

Mason is a powerful code generation tool that simplifies app development by providing reusable templates. With Mason CLI commands, developers can quickly create, test, and integrate custom templates into their Flutter projects. Whether you're looking to improve your development speed or share your templates with others, Mason is a valuable tool to consider as a Flutter developer.

Highlights:

• Mason is an open-source code generation tool for Flutter.
• Mason uses bricks, which are custom templates, to generate code.
• Mason CLI provides a set of commands for managing code generation.
• To install Mason, use dart pub global activate mason.
• Initializing a Mason project creates the necessary files and directories.
• Creating a brick structure involves organizing templates into folders.
• Mason uses Mustache templating syntax with variables inside double curly braces.
• Adding a license and readme file helps document and license the generated code.
• Integrating the brick into the main Mason.yaml file makes it available for generation.
• Testing and generating code from the brick is done using the mason make command.
• Adding a brick globally allows it to be used in any project without specifying the local path.
• Brick publishing on BrickHub.dev enables sharing and collaboration within the Flutter community.

FAQ:

Q: How can I install Mason? A: To install Mason, use the command dart pub global activate mason. Make sure you have Dart installed on your system.

Q: Can I create my own custom template using Mason? A: Yes, you can create custom templates (bricks) using Mason. By organizing your code into folders and using Mustache templating syntax, you can define reusable templates for faster development.

Q: How do I add a brick globally in Mason? A: To add a brick globally, use the command mason add global [brick_name] [path], where [brick_name] is the name of the brick and [path] is the path to its directory.

Q: What is BrickHub.dev? A: BrickHub.dev is a platform similar to Pub.dev that allows Flutter developers to publish and share their bricks (templates) with the community. It enables collaboration and the discovery of new templates for faster app development.

Q: Can I customize the generated code using Mason? A: Yes, you can customize the generated code by providing input values for variables defined in the brick. By using variables in the template files, Mason replaces them with the values you provide during code generation.

Q: Is Mason suitable for large-Scale projects? A: Yes, Mason is suitable for projects of all sizes. It helps in maintaining consistent code structure and speeds up development by providing reusable templates. Whether you're working on small or large-scale projects, Mason can be a valuable tool in your Flutter workflow.