Flutter Course 3.1: Installing Flutter SDK

Hello! In this tutorial, we will learn how to install the Flutter SDK. Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit (SDK) developed by Google, which allows you to build applications for mobile, web, and desktop. Today, I will guide you step by step through the process of installing the Flutter SDK.

1. What is Flutter?

Flutter is a UI toolkit that enables you to create high-quality applications across various platforms. With Flutter, you can create apps for iOS, Android, the web, and desktop, all from a single codebase, maximizing developer productivity.

2. Preparing to Install Flutter SDK

Before installing the Flutter SDK, you need to prepare a few things. Follow the steps below to check the system requirements needed for installation.

2.1 System Requirements

  • Operating System: Supported on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Disk Space: At least 1.4GB of free space is required.
  • Git: Git must be installed as it is used for version control of the Flutter SDK.

2.2 Installing Development Tools

It’s recommended to use an IDE such as Android Studio or Visual Studio Code when using Flutter. IDEs help simplify app development and make it easy to install necessary plugins.

3. Downloading and Installing Flutter SDK

Now we will move on to the steps of downloading and installing the Flutter SDK. Please follow the procedures below.

3.1 Download Flutter SDK

The Flutter SDK can be downloaded from the official website. Click the link below to download the latest Flutter SDK.

3.2 Extracting Flutter SDK

The downloaded SDK will be in ZIP file format. You need to extract this file to the desired location. It is generally recommended to use a path like `C:\src`. After extraction, the following structure will be created:

  C:\
    └── src
        └── flutter
            ├── bin
            ├── examples
            ├── packages
            └── ...

3.3 Setting Environment Variables

After the Flutter SDK is installed, you need to set the environment variables. This allows the Flutter command line to be called from any location.

  • Windows:
    1. Open ‘Control Panel’ from the Start menu.
    2. Click on ‘System and Security’ and then click on ‘System.’
    3. Select ‘Advanced system settings.’
    4. Click the ‘Environment Variables’ button.
    5. In the ‘System variables’ section, find and select the ‘Path’ variable and click ‘Edit.’
    6. Click ‘New’ and enter the path to the Flutter SDK’s bin directory (C:\src\flutter\bin).
    7. Close all dialogs by clicking the ‘OK’ button.
  • macOS and Linux: 
            # Add the following to ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc
        export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/flutter/bin"

    To apply the changes, run the following command in the terminal:

            source ~/.bash_profile  # for bash
        source ~/.zshrc          # for zsh

4. Verifying Flutter SDK Installation

To verify that the installation has been completed successfully, check the Flutter version from the command line. Type the following command:

flutter --version

If installed correctly, the version information of the installed Flutter SDK will be displayed.

5. Running Flutter Doctor

After installing the Flutter SDK, the next step is to run “Flutter Doctor” to check the setup status. Flutter Doctor diagnoses the status of the installed Flutter SDK and checks whether necessary tools are installed correctly.

flutter doctor

When this command is entered, a list of items that Flutter needs to check will be displayed. If each item is marked with a green check mark (✓), it indicates that the item is installed correctly. If it is marked with a red X (✗), that item needs to be addressed.

Checking Required Tools for the Project

After running Flutter Doctor, check whether the Android SDK, Android Studio, Xcode (optional), or other required tools are installed. Android Studio and Xcode are essential for developing Android and iOS applications, respectively.

6. Setting Up IDE

Now that you have installed the Flutter SDK, you need to set up your IDE. Here’s a brief introduction to setting up the most commonly used IDEs, Android Studio and Visual Studio Code.

6.1 Installing and Setting Up Android Studio

  1. Download and install Android Studio.
  2. Upon first running after installation, install the Flutter and Dart plugins under Plugins.
  3. After the plugins are installed, select File > New Flutter Project to create a new Flutter project.

6.2 Installing and Setting Up Visual Studio Code

  1. Download and install Visual Studio Code.
  2. In the Extension View, install the ‘Dart’ and ‘Flutter’ extensions.
  3. Create a new Flutter project in Visual Studio Code.

7. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered how to install the Flutter SDK. Now that the basic Flutter environment is set up, you are ready to start working on actual projects. In the next tutorial, we will explore the basic UI components and application structure of Flutter. Keep exploring the charm of Flutter!

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask in the comments. Thank you!