Language Server Protocol

Language Server Protocol (LSP) support is available in the Dart analysis server from version 2.2.0 of the SDK (which was included in version 1.2.1 of Flutter). The supported messages are detailed below (for the version of the SDK that matches this README).

Using the Dart LSP server in editors

Running the Server

Start the language server using the dart language-server command. Pass the --client-id and --client-version flags to identify your editor/plugin and version:

dart language-server --client-id my-editor.my-plugin --client-version 1.2

Note: In LSP the client makes the first request so there is no obvious confirmation that the server is working correctly until the client sends an initialize request. Unlike standard JSON RPC, LSP requires that headers are sent.

Handling of “Loose” Files

When there are no open workspace folders (or if the initialization option onlyAnalyzeProjectsWithOpenFiles is set to true), analysis will be performed based on project folders located by the open files. For each open file, the project root will be located, and that whole project analyzed. If the file does not have a project (eg. there is no pubspec.yaml in its ancestor folders) then the file will be analyzed in isolation.

Initialization Options

  • onlyAnalyzeProjectsWithOpenFiles (bool?): When set to true, workspace folders will be ignored and analysis will be performed based on the open files, as if no workspace was open at all. This allows opening large folders without causing them to be completely analyzed. Defaults to false.
  • suggestFromUnimportedLibraries (bool?): When set to false, completion will not include synbols that are not already imported into the current file. Defaults to true, though the client must additionally support workspace/applyEdit for these completions to be included.
  • closingLabels (bool?): When set to true, dart/textDocument/publishClosingLabels notifications will be sent with information to render editor closing labels.
  • outline (bool?): When set to true, dart/textDocument/publishOutline notifications will be sent with outline information for open files.
  • flutterOutline (bool?): When set to true, dart/textDocument/publishFlutterOutline notifications will be sent with Flutter outline information for open files.

Client Workspace Configuration

Client workspace settings are requested with workspace/configuration during initialization and re-requested whenever the client notifies the server with workspace/didChangeConfiguration. This allows the settings to take effect without restarting the server.

  • dart.analysisExcludedFolders (List<String>?): An array of paths (absolute or relative to each workspace folder) that should be excluded from analysis.
  • dart.enableSdkFormatter (bool?): When set to false, prevents registration (or unregisters) the SDK formatter. When set to true or not supplied, will register/reregister the SDK formatter.
  • dart.lineLength (int?): The number of characters the formatter should wrap code at. If unspecified, code will be wrapped at 80 characters.
  • dart.completeFunctionCalls (bool?): When set to true, completes functions/methods with their required parameters.
  • dart.showTodos (bool?): Whether to generate diagnostics for TODO comments. If unspecified, diagnostics will not be generated.
  • dart.renameFilesWithClasses (String): When set to "always", will include edits to rename files when classes are renamed if the filename matches the class name (but in snake_form). When set to "prompt", a prompt will be shown on each class rename asking to confirm the file rename. Otherwise, files will not be renamed. Renames are performed using LSP's ResourceOperation edits - that means the rename is simply included in the resulting WorkspaceEdit and must be handled by the client.
  • dart.enableSnippets (bool?): Whether to include code snippets (such as class, stful, switch) in code completion. When unspecified, snippets will be included.

Method Status

Below is a list of LSP methods and their implementation status.

  • Method: The LSP method name
  • Basic Impl: This method has an implementation but may assume some client capabilities
  • Capabilities: Only types from the original spec or as advertised in client capabilities are returned
  • Plugins: This functionality works with server plugins
  • Tests: Has automated tests
  • Tested Client: Has been manually tested in at least one LSP client editor
MethodBasic ImplCapabilitiesPluginsTestsTested ClientNotes
initializeN/Atrace and other options NYI
initializedN/A
shutdownN/Asupported but does nothing
exitN/A
$/cancelRequest
window/showMessage
window/showMessageRequest
window/logMessage
telemetry/event
client/registerCapability
client/unregisterCapability
workspace/workspaceFolders
workspace/didChangeWorkspaceFolders
workspace/didChangeConfiguration
workspace/configuration
workspace/didChangeWatchedFilesunused, server does own watching
workspace/symbol
workspace/executeCommand
workspace/applyEdit
workspace/onWillRenameFiles
textDocument/didOpen
textDocument/didChange
textDocument/willSave
textDocument/willSaveWaitUntil
textDocument/didClose
textDocument/publishDiagnostics
textDocument/completion
completionItem/resolve
textDocument/hover
textDocument/signatureHelptrigger character handling outstanding
textDocument/declaration
textDocument/definition
textDocument/typeDefinition
textDocument/implementation
textDocument/references
textDocument/documentHighlight
textDocument/documentSymbol
textDocument/selectionRanges
textDocument/codeAction (sortMembers)
textDocument/codeAction (organiseImports)
textDocument/codeAction (fixAll)
textDocument/codeAction (refactors)
textDocument/codeAction (assists)Only if the client advertises codeActionLiteralSupport with Refactor
textDocument/codeAction (fixes)Only if the client advertises codeActionLiteralSupport with QuickFix
textDocument/codeLens
codeLens/resolve
textDocument/documentLink
documentLink/resolve
textDocument/documentColor
textDocument/colorPresentation
textDocument/formatting
textDocument/rangeFormatting
textDocument/onTypeFormatting
textDocument/rename
textDocument/prepareRename
textDocument/foldingRange
textDocument/semanticTokens/full
textDocument/semanticTokens/range

Custom Methods and Notifications

The following custom methods/notifications are also provided by the Dart LSP server:

dart/diagnosticServer Method

Direction: Client -> Server Params: None Returns: { port: number }

Starts the analzyer diagnostics server (if not already running) and returns the port number it's listening on.

dart/reanalyze Method

Direction: Client -> Server Params: None Returns: None

Forces re-reading of all potentially changed files, re-resolving of all referenced URIs, and corresponding re-analysis of everything affected in the current analysis roots. Clients should not usually need to call this method - needing to do so may indicate a bug in the server.

dart/textDocument/super Method

Direction: Client -> Server Params: TextDocumentPositionParams Returns: Location | null

Returns the location of the super definition of the class or method at the provided position or null if there isn't one.

$/analyzerStatus Notification (Deprecated)

Direction: Server -> Client Params: { isAnalyzing: boolean }

Notifies the client when analysis starts/completes.

This notification is not sent if the client capabilities include window.workDoneProgress == true because analyzing status events will be sent using $/progress.

This notification may be removed in a future Dart SDK release and should not be depended on.

dart/textDocument/publishClosingLabels Notification

Direction: Server -> Client Params: { uri: string, labels: { label: string, range: Range }[] }

Notifies the client when closing label information is available (or updated) for a file.

dart/textDocument/publishOutline Notification

Direction: Server -> Client Params: { uri: string, outline: Outline } Outline: { element: Element, range: Range, codeRange: Range, children: Outline[] } Element: { name: string, range: Range, kind: string, parameters: string | undefined, typeParameters: string | undefined, returnType: string | undefined }

Notifies the client when outline information is available (or updated) for a file.

Nodes contains multiple ranges:

  • element.range - the range of the name in the declaration of the element
  • range - the entire range of the declaration including dartdocs
  • codeRange - the range of code part of the declaration (excluding dartdocs and annotations) - typically used when navigating to the declaration

dart/textDocument/publishFlutterOutline Notification

Direction: Server -> Client Params: { uri: string, outline: FlutterOutline } FlutterOutline: { dartElement: Element | undefined, range: Range, codeRange: Range, children: Outline[], kind: string, label: string | undefined, className: string | undefined, variableName: string | undefined, attributes: FlutterOutlineAttribute[] | undefined } FlutterOutlineAttribute: { name: string, label: string } Element: as defined for the dart/textDocument/publishOutline notification.

Notifies the client when Flutter outline information is available (or updated) for a file.

Nodes contains multiple ranges as desribed for the dart/textDocument/publishOutline notification.