Developing Genkit Dart

---
name: developing-genkit-dart
description: Use when building AI agents in Dart, implementing Genkit flows or tools, integrating LLMs into Dart or Flutter applications, or using Genkit Dart plugins.
license: MIT
---

# Genkit Dart

Genkit Dart is an AI SDK for Dart that provides a unified interface for code generation, structured outputs, tools, flows, and AI agents.

## Core Features and Usage
If you need help with initializing Genkit (`Genkit()`), Generation (`ai.generate`), Tooling (`ai.defineTool`), Flows (`ai.defineFlow`), Embeddings (`ai.embedMany`), streaming, or calling remote flow endpoints, please load the core framework reference: 
[references/genkit.md](references/genkit.md)

## Genkit CLI (recommended)

The Genkit CLI provides a local development UI for running Flow, tracing executions, playing with models, and evaluating outputs.

check if the user has it installed: `genkit --version`

**Installation:**
```bash
npm install -g genkit-cli # Via npm (preferred)
```
A native CLI installer is also documented at https://genkit.dev/docs/devtools — it pipes a remote script to `bash`, so run it yourself rather than having an agent execute it.

**Usage:**
Wrap your run command with `genkit start` to attach the Genkit developer UI and tracing:
```bash
genkit start -- dart run main.dart
```

## Plugin Ecosystem
Genkit relies on a large suite of plugins to perform generative AI actions, interface with external LLMs, or host web servers.

When asked to use any given plugin, always verify usage by referring to its corresponding reference below. You should load the reference when you need to know the specific initialization arguments, tools, models, and usage patterns for the plugin:

| Plugin Name | Reference Link | Description |
| ---- | ---- | ---- |
| `genkit_google_genai` | [references/genkit_google_genai.md](references/genkit_google_genai.md) | Load for Google Gemini plugin interface usage. |
| `genkit_anthropic` | [references/genkit_anthropic.md](references/genkit_anthropic.md) | Load for Anthropic plugin interface for Claude models. |
| `genkit_openai` | [references/genkit_openai.md](references/genkit_openai.md) | Load for OpenAI plugin interface for GPT models, Groq, and custom compatible endpoints. |
| `genkit_middleware` | [references/genkit_middleware.md](references/genkit_middleware.md) | Load for Tooling for specific agentic behavior: `filesystem`, `skills`, and `toolApproval` interrupts. |
| `genkit_mcp` | [references/genkit_mcp.md](references/genkit_mcp.md) | Load for Model Context Protocol integration (Server, Host, and Client capabilities). |
| `genkit_chrome` | [references/genkit_chrome.md](references/genkit_chrome.md) | Load for Running Gemini Nano locally inside the Chrome browser using the Prompt API. |
| `genkit_shelf` | [references/genkit_shelf.md](references/genkit_shelf.md) | Load for Integrating Genkit Flow actions over HTTP using Dart Shelf. |
| `genkit_firebase_ai` | [references/genkit_firebase_ai.md](references/genkit_firebase_ai.md) | Load for Firebase AI plugin interface (Gemini API via Vertex AI). |

## External Dependencies
Whenever you define schemas mapping inside of Tools, Flows, and Prompts, you must use the [schemantic](https://pub.dev/packages/schemantic) library. 
To learn how to use schemantic, ensure you read [references/schemantic.md](references/schemantic.md) for how to implement type safe generated Dart code. This is particularly relevant when you encounter symbols like `@Schema()`, `SchemanticType`, or classes with the `$` prefix. Genkit Dart uses schemantic for all of its data models so it's a CRITICAL skill to understand for using Genkit Dart.

## Best Practices
- Always check that code cleanly compiles using `dart analyze` before generating the final response.
- Always use the Genkit CLI for local development and debugging.