Linux Guide: Getting Started with Flutter

Introduction

Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. If you are a Linux user, this guide will help you set up Flutter on your system and get started with your first Flutter project.

Table of Contents

1. System Requirements
2. Download Flutter SDK
3. Install Flutter SDK
4. Update Your PATH
5. Install Additional Tools
6. Run flutter doctor
7. Create and Run a Flutter App
8. Conclusion

System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Operating System: 64-bit version of Linux
• Disk Space: 600 MB (does not include disk space for IDE/tools)
• Tools: bash, curl, git 2.x, mkdir, rm, unzip, which, and xz-utils

Download Flutter SDK

1. Visit the Flutter Website
   • Go to the Flutter official website.
2. Download the SDK
   • Click the “Download Flutter SDK” button to get the latest stable release.

Install Flutter SDK

1. Extract the TAR File
   • Locate the downloaded TAR file and extract it to the desired location on your system (e.g., ~/development/flutter).
   bashCopy codetar xf ~/Downloads/flutter_linux_<version>.tar.xz -C ~/development/
2. Avoid Installation Locations with Spaces
   • Ensure the installation path does not contain spaces (e.g., avoid ~/Program Files).

Update Your PATH

1. Open Terminal
   • Open the Terminal app.
2. Update PATH Variable
   • Add the Flutter bin directory to your PATH by modifying the .bashrc or .zshrc file:
   bashCopy codenano ~/.bashrc
   • Add the following line to the file:
   bashCopy codeexport PATH="$PATH:$HOME/development/flutter/bin"
3. Apply Changes
   • Save the file and apply the changes:
   bashCopy codesource ~/.bashrc

Install Additional Tools

1. Android Studio
   • Download and install Android Studio.
2. Set Up Android SDK
   • Open Android Studio and follow the setup wizard to install the necessary Android SDK components.
3. Install Flutter and Dart Plugins
   • In Android Studio, go to File > Settings > Plugins.
   • Search for and install the “Flutter” and “Dart” plugins.

Run flutter doctor

1. Open Terminal
   • Open a new Terminal window.
2. Run flutter doctor
   • Type flutter doctor and press Enter.
   • Review the output and follow any additional setup instructions.
   bashCopy codeflutter doctor

Create and Run a Flutter App

1. Create a New Project
   • In the Terminal, navigate to your development directory and create a new Flutter project:
   bashCopy codeflutter create my_first_app
2. Navigate to the Project Directory
   • Change to the project directory:
   bashCopy codecd my_first_app
3. Run the App
   • Ensure an Android emulator is running or a physical device is connected.
   • Run the app using the following command:
   bashCopy codeflutter run

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully set up Flutter on your Linux machine and run your first Flutter app. For more detailed information and troubleshooting, refer to the official Flutter documentation. Happy coding!