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Topics
Q: Is Flutter Linux stable?
Q: What OS does Flutter support?
Q: How do I run the Flutter app on a Linux desktop?
Q: Can Flutter be used for Linux?
In the sphere of the digital age, developing efficient and creative applications is a quintessential need and Flutter stands out as a highly productive and popular choice. Whilst there are several versatile platforms to consider, this blog focuses on utilizing Flutter Linux, a potent combination for app development. This combination provides a bouquet of benefits such as productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness due to low resource requirements.
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Flutter offers a rich set of features that facilitate building beautiful, fast, native apps for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Its ability to utilize the Linux programming interface empowers developers with strong tools leading to quality production of apps. Furthermore, installing Flutter Linux is not a Herculean task due to its well-documented installation guide and strong community of developers.
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The very first step towards crafting amazing Flutter apps on a Linux system is to install the Flutter SDK. Refer to the simple step-by-step process from the official Flutter docs here .
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The Linux programming interface, a blend of library functions and system calls, is ingeniously planned around the C language and Application Binary Interface (ABI). This seamless interface ensures smooth communication and interoperability among programs.
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The Linux interface for programming encircling C language and ABI comes with two folds of advantages. Firstly, it ensures the interoperability of programs, and secondly, it enhances the app performance. The ABI particularly plays a pivotal role in offering a contract between program modules to ensure binary compatibility, and to guarantee the smooth running of your Flutter app on Linux.
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Dart:ffi is an important tool that links Dart and C libraries effectively. Dart:ffi stands for Dart's foreign function interface that helps in calling C libraries in a more efficient way. It equips Flutter apps with the capacity to allocate native memory with malloc or calloc, a trait vital in building an efficient app.
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Allocating native memory and supporting ABI types play a significant role in the Flutter Linux app development process. These aspects influence the smooth interaction between the Dart virtual machine and native C libraries.
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To allocate native memory in Flutter Linux, you can make effective use of malloc and calloc functions. These functions hail from C library and serve as the foundation stone for any Linux app development.
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Apart from memory allocation, ABI types long and size_t are other quintessential components of Linux app development using Flutter. These types are important for data representation during the execution of your app and ensure the correct and efficient processes.
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To make the app development process more streamlined and efficient, Flutter provides various packages that serve specific purposes. The usage of these packages fast-tracks the development process and also aids in enhancing the functionality and performance of the app.
Several apps might need the usage of wrap packages that encapsulate the underlying library calls into an idiomatic Dart API. These packages promote a user-friendly environment for your Flutter app development, thereby saving time and empowering developers to focus more on logical implementation.
Canonical has developed various packages designed to enable Dart and Flutter applications on Linux. They also extend support for desktop notifications, dbus, network management, and Bluetooth. The usage of these packages enriches Linux app development, facilitating the creation of robust and feature-packed applications.
Apart from Canonical, several other packages such as url_launcher and shared_preferences also support Linux. These packages have been developed to extend support for common functionalities needed across most applications.
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In addition to these files, your application greatly relies on various operating system libraries. It's crucial to understand that your app has been compiled against these libraries.
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We can inspect these system libraries by using ldd against your application. You can see the full list by running the ldd command. For example, if you have a Flutter desktop application called linux_desktop_test, you can inspect the system libraries it depends upon as follows:
This command lists all the dependencies your application has which can help you while wrapping up your application for distribution.
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With a complete understanding of the executable binary and the dependencies, we can proceed towards packaging this application for distribution.
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The Linux system you are installing your Flutter app on needs all of the system libraries required. Ensuring these dependencies can result in a smooth distribution process and flawless operation of your app on the user's end.
Here's a simple example of how you can install the necessary system libraries in a Linux system.
With these steps, you are now ready to distribute your application on Linux platforms. The final part of our journey is the publication of this application, and a popular choice is the Snap Store.
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Many developers choose to distribute their desktop apps on the Snap Store due to its ease of use and excellent reach. Let's discuss how you can prepare your Flutter Linux app for release in the Snap Store.
The first step is to ensure your app adheres to all the requirements of the Snap Store. Necessary aspects such as app stability, correct operation, and conformity with the Snaps agreement are to be verified before submission. You can find more information specific to your app's requirements in the Snap Store documentation.
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Flutter on Linux offers a promising future for creating robust, beautiful and efficient desktop applications. The ease of usage, excellent support, and strong community make it a potential game-changer in the cross-platform app development space.
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Before we part ways, I'd like to introduce you to WiseGPT , a game-changing plugin for creating fantastic Flutter apps. WiseGPT generates API code right into your Flutter projects, reflecting your coding style. For complex API endpoints, this promptless AI-powered IDE plugin eliminates manual API queries, response parsing, and error-handling tactics. Simply give a set of APIs, and WiseGPT will handle the rest.
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No Limit on Output Size: With WiseGPT, the possibilities are endless. Generate as much code as you need without any restrictions for the entire app lifecycle.
Mirrors Your Coding Style: WiseGPT adapts to your coding style, ensuring that the generated code seamlessly integrates with your existing codebase.
Promptless: Say goodbye to manual coding. WiseGPT handles everything, simplifying your workflow.ā
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Flutter opens a realm of exciting app development possibilities, accessible across all platforms. The process of building a Linux app using Flutter involves setup, familiarizing it with the Linux programming interface, and using system libraries effectively. Regardless of your experience level, Flutter's robust ecosystem equips you with all the necessary tools for crafting memorable user experiences.
So, go forth and unleash your creativity, as you embark on a journey of crafting masterpieces with Flutter!
# Example of using the ldd command
flutter build linux --release
ldd build/linux/release/bundle/linux_desktop_test
# Example of installing necessary system libraries
sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-0 libblkid1 liblzma5