Install the SDK and Check Your Version
Get the Dart SDK running on your machine.
Install the SDK and Check Your Version is a free Dart Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Dart Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
What the SDK Gives You
The Dart SDK is the toolbox that lets your computer understand and run Dart code. Installing it is your first real step. 🧰
Two Ways to Get Dart
You can install the standalone Dart SDK, or get it bundled inside Flutter. If you plan to build apps, the Flutter route gives you both at once.
Installing on Windows
On Windows, the simplest path is the Chocolatey package manager. One command in your terminal downloads and sets up Dart for you.
choco install dart-sdkInstalling on macOS
On a Mac, the popular Homebrew manager makes installing Dart a single, clean command in the terminal.
brew tap dart-lang/dart
brew install dartInstalling on Linux
On Linux you add Google's apt repository, then install Dart with your usual package commands. The official docs list the exact steps.
sudo apt-get install dartThe PATH Variable
Your terminal finds programs through a setting called PATH. Dart must be listed there so you can type its commands from any folder.
Checking the Version
To confirm Dart is installed, open a terminal and ask it for its version. If it answers, you are ready to code.
dart --versionReading the Output
The version command prints something like Dart SDK version 3.x. That version number tells you which language features you have. ✅
If the Command Fails
A command not found error usually means Dart is not on your PATH yet. Restart the terminal, or recheck the install step for your system.
Try DartPad First
Want zero setup right now? DartPad runs Dart entirely in your browser, perfect for practicing before a full local install.
Pick an Editor
Most people write Dart in VS Code with the Dart extension. It adds helpful hints, error squiggles, and one-click run buttons.
Quick Check
Let's confirm the version step.
Recap
You installed the Dart SDK for your system and confirmed it with dart --version. Setup done, now let's write some real code. 🎉
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Install the SDK and Check Your Version” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Install the SDK and Check Your Version” is free to read here on the web, and the Dart Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Dart Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Install the SDK and Check Your Version”?
Get the Dart SDK running on your machine. You practise Dart Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Dart Academy?
No prior experience is required. Dart Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Install the SDK and Check Your Version” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Dart Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Dart Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- What Dart Is and Why It Exists
- Install the SDK and Check Your Version
- Anatomy of main() and Hello World
- Printing, Comments, and Statements