Dart FFI Native Assets

---
name: dart-setup-ffi-assets
description: "Guides agents in compiling and packaging C/C++ source code into dynamic or static libraries (Code Assets) using Dart's Native Assets hook system (via hook/build.dart and hook/link.dart utilizing package:hooks and package:native_toolchain_c). Use when a user asks to: 'setup native assets', 'compile C/C++ source code', 'bundle dynamic libraries', 'build native C code', 'link native assets', 'implement build.dart or link.dart hooks', or 'integrate C/C++ interop in Dart/Flutter'. Helps agents avoid manual toolchain orchestration and configures secure hash-validated binary downloads or advanced linker tree-shaking with package:record_use mapping."
metadata:
  model: models/gemini-3.1-pro-preview
  last_modified: Fri, 29 May 2026 09:10:00 GMT
---
# Compiling C Code into Code Assets with Native Assets Hooks

Integrate and automate the compilation and packaging of native C/C++ source code into **Code Assets** under Dart's overarching **Native Assets** feature using build and link hooks.

## Contents
- [Introduction](#introduction)
- [Constraints](#constraints)
- [Native Interop Packages](#native-interop-packages)
- [Step-by-Step Workflow](#step-by-step-workflow)
- [Choosing an Integration Approach](#choosing-an-integration-approach)
- [Method 1: Local Compilation with Linker Tree-Shaking (Recommended)](#method-1-local-compilation-with-linker-tree-shaking-recommended)
  - [Prerequisite Host Compiler Toolchains](#prerequisite-host-compiler-toolchains)
  - [C Source and Bindings Setup](#c-source-and-bindings-setup)
  - [Defining the C Library Build Spec](#defining-the-c-library-build-spec)
  - [Implementing hook/build.dart](#implementing-hookbuilddart)
  - [Implementing hook/link.dart](#implementing-hooklinkdart)
- [Method 2: Downloading Precompiled Dynamic Libraries](#method-2-downloading-precompiled-dynamic-libraries)
  - [Why Download Precompiled Binaries?](#why-download-precompiled-binaries)