Educational

Installing Flutter SDK

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by

Saim Khalid
in

Flutter has become one of the most popular frameworks for cross-platform app development. Powered by Google and backed by Dart, it allows developers to build Android, iOS, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase. But before you can dive into the world of Flutter development, the very first step is installing the Flutter SDK (Software Development Kit) on your machine.

This guide is a complete, detailed, step-by-step tutorial—around 3000 words—designed to help you set up the Flutter SDK on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, you’ll find all the instructions, troubleshooting steps, and best practices needed to start your Flutter journey.

1. What is Flutter SDK?

The Flutter SDK is a collection of tools, libraries, and command-line utilities that make Flutter app development possible. It includes:

  • Dart SDK – The programming language Flutter uses.
  • Flutter framework libraries – Widgets, rendering engine, and UI components.
  • Flutter command-line tools – For running, testing, and building apps.
  • Hot reload/hot restart tools – To update apps instantly during development.

Without the Flutter SDK, you cannot build or run Flutter apps.

2. System Requirements

Before installation, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements.

Windows Requirements:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or later.
  • Disk space: At least 1.5 GB (not including IDE tools).
  • Tools: PowerShell 5.0 or newer, Git for Windows.

macOS Requirements:

  • macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later.
  • Disk space: At least 2.8 GB.
  • Tools: Git, Xcode (for iOS development).

Linux Requirements:

  • A 64-bit Linux distribution.
  • Disk space: 600 MB (excluding IDE/tools).
  • Tools: Bash, Git, and development libraries.

⚠️ Note: For Android development, you will also need Android Studio (or command-line Android SDK tools). For iOS development, Xcode is required (macOS only).

3. Downloading the Flutter SDK

The official Flutter SDK can be downloaded from:
👉 https://flutter.dev/docs/get-started/install

  • Choose your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  • Download the latest stable version (recommended for most developers).
  • You may also choose beta or master channels if you want cutting-edge features, but stability might be an issue.

4. Installing Flutter SDK on Windows

Let’s go step by step for Windows users.

Step 1: Extract the ZIP File

  • Download the flutter_windows_<version>-stable.zip file.
  • Extract it to a suitable location, for example: C:\src\flutter
  • Avoid installing Flutter in directories like C:\Program Files\ that require admin permissions.

Step 2: Add Flutter to PATH

  • Open Start Menu → Search → Environment Variables.
  • Click on Edit the system environment variables.
  • In the System Properties dialog, click Environment Variables.
  • Under System Variables, select Path and click Edit.
  • Add a new entry: C:\src\flutter\bin

Step 3: Run Flutter Doctor

  • Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
  • Run: flutter doctor
  • This command checks your environment and displays the installation status of Flutter, Dart, Android SDK, and other dependencies.

Step 4: Install Android Studio (Optional but Recommended)

Step 5: Connect an Emulator or Real Device

  • Use AVD Manager in Android Studio to create a virtual device.
  • Alternatively, enable USB debugging on your phone and connect it via USB.

At this point, Flutter SDK on Windows is ready for development.

5. Installing Flutter SDK on macOS

For macOS users, installation steps are slightly different, especially if you want to build iOS apps.

Step 1: Download and Extract

  • Download the flutter_macos_<version>-stable.zip.
  • Extract it to a directory like: ~/development/flutter

Step 2: Update PATH

Add Flutter to PATH by editing .zshrc or .bashrc (depending on your shell).

export PATH="$PATH:pwd/flutter/bin"

Run:

source ~/.zshrc

Step 3: Run Flutter Doctor

flutter doctor

This will check for dependencies such as Xcode, Android SDK, and connected devices.

Step 4: Install Xcode (for iOS Development)

  • Download from Mac App Store.
  • Install command-line tools: xcode-select --install
  • Accept license agreements: sudo xcodebuild -license

Step 5: Setup CocoaPods

Flutter requires CocoaPods for iOS dependency management.

sudo gem install cocoapods

6. Installing Flutter SDK on Linux

Linux setup is straightforward.

Step 1: Download and Extract

  • Download flutter_linux_<version>-stable.tar.xz.
  • Extract it to a location like: ~/development/flutter

Step 2: Add to PATH

Edit .bashrc or .zshrc:

export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/development/flutter/bin"

Run:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 3: Run Flutter Doctor

flutter doctor

Step 4: Install Required Packages (Ubuntu Example)

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential clang cmake ninja-build pkg-config libgtk-3-dev

7. Using Flutter Doctor

The flutter doctor command is one of the most important tools. It checks:

  • Flutter SDK installation.
  • Dart SDK installation.
  • Android SDK & emulator setup.
  • iOS setup (on macOS).
  • Connected devices.

Example output:

Doctor summary (to see all details, run flutter doctor -v):
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.x, on macOS 12.3, locale en-US)
[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices
[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS
[✓] Chrome - develop for the web
[✓] Connected device (1 available)

✅ A green checkmark means everything is working correctly.
⚠️ A yellow warning means optional setup is missing.
❌ A red cross means something is broken and needs fixing.

8. Choosing an IDE for Flutter

You can use any editor, but recommended ones are:

  • Android Studio (full-featured, built-in emulator).
  • Visual Studio Code (lightweight, popular among developers).

Both have Flutter and Dart plugins that enable debugging, auto-complete, and project templates.

9. First Flutter App

After installing Flutter, test your setup by creating a new app.

flutter create my_first_app
cd my_first_app
flutter run

This will run the default Flutter counter app on your connected device or emulator.

10. Common Installation Issues & Fixes

Issue 1: Flutter Command Not Found

  • Ensure flutter/bin is correctly added to PATH.
  • Restart terminal or system after editing PATH.

Issue 2: Android SDK Not Found

  • Install Android Studio and ensure SDK tools are added.
  • Run flutter doctor --android-licenses and accept licenses.

Issue 3: Xcode Errors on macOS

  • Make sure Xcode command-line tools are installed.
  • Run sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer.

Issue 4: Emulator Not Launching

  • Check if virtualization is enabled in BIOS (Windows).
  • Ensure AVD Manager is properly configured.

11. Best Practices After Installation

  • Keep Flutter updated: flutter upgrade
  • Switch channels (if needed): flutter channel stable flutter upgrade
  • Check dependencies frequently with flutter doctor.

12. Why Correct Installation Matters

  • Ensures smooth development experience.
  • Prevents frustrating runtime errors.
  • Optimizes performance for Android/iOS builds.
  • Makes upgrading Flutter easier in the future.

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