Here is the the steps you’ll need to make to have a completed environment to start Flutter development on Debian Linux.
Install git
Open Terminal and execute the following commands:
$ sudo apt install git
(Git is needed if you’re keep your code in repository or if you decided to update Flutter binaries from the source code repo. And it’s needed during a Flutter installation).
Install and setup Flutter Framework
Create a folder to keep Flutter Framework. Open Files app and create a new folder in your home directory, let’s name it “Developer”:
Go to Flutter site and download Flutter:
Unpack Flutter to the folder you’ve created. Open Terminal and execute unpack commands:
$ cd ~/Developer/
$ tar xvf ~/Downloads/flutter_linux_v1.12.13+hotfix.8-stable.tar.xz
Add the Flutter binary to your Linux PATH. Edit your profile. In Terminal:
$ nano -w ~/.profile
Add the following line to the end of file:
PATH="$HOME/Developer/flutter/bin:$PATH"
Press “Ctrl+X” to exit nano, type “Y” and press “Enter” to save the file.
Apply the changes made in file. In Terminal execute:
$ source ~/.profile
Check if flutter available. In Terminal execute:
$ which flutter
You’ll receive the next output:
/home/ikarelin/Developer/flutter/bin/flutter
If you didn’t receive an output with the path, check the path you put in .profile and where you unpacked flutter.
Install Ubuntu Snap Store
If you’re running Ubuntu Linux, you can skip this step, Snap Store is already installed.
Open Terminal and execute:
$ sudo apt install snapd
I’m not sure why, but you need to reboot your machine at this point to get access to Snap Store. So reboot your machine.
After rebooting search for “Snap” in your application and run the Snap Store:
Tap the Search icon at the top right corner and search for “idea”:
Tap on “IDEA Community” and click “Install” button.
You can search and install Android Studio or Visual Studio Code if you prefer.
Now go to your applications, search for “idea” and run the application.
Do not import settings.
Accept the license.
Configure IDEA with default settings.
On the welcome screen click on “Configure” and select “Plugins”.
In Plugins screen type “flutter” in search field:
You need to install Flutter for sure.
I also recommend to install “Flutter Snippets” and “Flutter Enhancement Suite”, but it’s on your own.
After installing press “Restart IDE” on any plugin.
Let’s open the Terminal and check our Flutter “health”:
$ flutter doctor
All seems to be fine except Android SDK. Let’s install it.
Open IntelliJ IDEA application. Click on “Create New Project” on the Welcome Screen.
Select “Flutter” at the menu on the left and press “Next”.
Give project a name, for example “test_project: and press “Finish”.
It’ll take some time to generate a new project.
After the project created, got to IDEA menu at the top and select “Settings”:
In the search field at the top right corner type “sdk”.
You’ll be directed to “Android SDK” settings:
Click on the “Edit” link ant the bottom right corner (the one with the blue text).
IDEA will open an “SDK Components Setup” window, click the “Next” button and wait for SDK installation.
After downloading and installation completes press “Finish”.
Install Java JDK
Let’s move to the Terminal again and check flutter doctor output:
$ flutter doctor
If you don’t have a JDK installed you’ll receive the next message:
In Terminal execute:
$ sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk
Let’s check a flutter doctor again.
So we have a problems with Android Licenses.
Let’s open our project in IDEA and fix this. Go to “File” -> “Settings” menu, search for sdk.
In Android SDK menu select “Android 9.0 (Pie)” and press “Apply” button.
IDEA will ask you for the changes, click “OK”:
You’ll be presented with License Agreement window, select “Accept” and click “Next”.
After download ant installation completed press “Finish”.
And let’s remove Android 10.0 (Q). Uncheck this in Android SDK Settings window and press “Apply” button.
Confirm the changes.
