How to ensure code is run only once in a widget? - flutter

Question

I do have a lot of code that looks like
this:
bool _somethingFromApiLoaded = false;
Something _somethingFromApi;
loadSomething() async {
final something = await ServiceProvider.of(context).apiService.getSomething();
setState(() => _somethingFromApi = something);
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
if (!_somethingFromApiLoaded) {
loadSomething();
_somethingFromApiLoaded = true;
}
}
Note how I produce a lot of boilerplate code to ensure loadSomething is only called once.
I wonder if there isn't a lifecycle method to do so that I somehow misinterpret. I can't use initState because it does not have context.

Answer 1

I would try to a use a StatefulWidget and use initState() method.
That is the lifecycle you are referring to.
You should try to use a Future inside the initState()
#override
void initState() {
super.initState(); // make sure this is called in the beggining
// your code here runs only once
Future.delayed(Duration.zero,() {
_somethingFromApi = await ServiceProvider.of(context).apiService.getSomething();
});
}
As User gegobyte said, Context is available in the initState.
But apparently can't be used for everything.

Answer 2

You can use context in initState() by passing it to the widget:
class HomeScreen extends StatefulWidget {
final BuildContext context;
HomeScreen(this.context);
#override
State<StatefulWidget> createState() => new _HomeScreenState();
}
class _HomeScreenState extends State<HomeScreen> {
bool _somethingFromApiLoaded = false;
Something _somethingFromApi;
loadSomething() async {
final something = await ServiceProvider.of(widget.context).apiService.getSomething();
setState(() => _somethingFromApi = something);
}
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
if (!_somethingFromApiLoaded) {
loadSomething();
_somethingFromApiLoaded = true;
}
}
}