How to Install Flutter on Windows?

Flutter uses a widget-based approach to create user interfaces. Widgets are user interface components that represent items such as text fields, buttons, and layouts. Flutter is a dynamic framework for developing simple mobile apps into large cross-platform applications that operate on various devices and platforms. These widgets are customizable and can be used to build elaborate user interfaces.

How to Install Flutter - Table of Contents

• What is Flutter?
• Features of Flutter
• Importance of Flutter
• Prerequisites to Install Flutter
• Steps to Install Flutter on Windows
• FAQs

What is Flutter?

Google’s Flutter is an open-source UI software development framework. It is free and works with existing programs. Flutter enables developers to construct visually beautiful, high-performance applications that provide a uniform user experience across platforms.

Assume you want to design a toy automobile that can go on smooth and uneven roads. You have two choices: create two distinct cars, one for each terrain type, or build a single car that can adapt to various surfaces. Flutter is a versatile tool for developing apps. It allows you to create apps that function on both iPhones and Android phones without building two separate versions.

If you want to enrich your career and become a professional in Flutter, then enroll in "Flutter Certification Training". This course will help you to achieve excellence in this domain.

Features of Flutter

Some of the key features of Flutter are given below:

• Single Codebase: It lets you write your app’s code once and deliver it across many platforms. Development time and resources can be saved as you don’t have to maintain different codebases for each platform.
• Fast Performance: Flutter apps are compiled directly into native ARM code, resulting in outstanding performance. The framework’s architecture enables it to reach 60 fps performance, which is essential for delivering fluid animations and interactions.
• Widgets: Flutter includes a large number of customizable widgets for generating a variety of UI components. These widgets adhere to Android’s Material Design guidelines and iOS’s Cupertino design principles, delivering a native look and feel.
• Hot Reload: The “Hot Reload” feature enables developers to make code changes and immediately view the results in the running app without restarting or losing the app’s state. It significantly speeds up the development and testing processes.
• Access to Native Features: Through a plugin system, Flutter provides developers with access to native device functionality and APIs. This implies you may connect to device hardware, sensors, and services such as camera, location, etc.
• Expressive UIs: The animation library enables developers to create creative and engaging user experiences. To improve the user experience, you may quickly build complicated animations and transitions.

Importance of Flutter

Flutter is significant in the field of software development for several reasons. These are stated below:

• Developers can create visually appealing and consistent user interfaces across multiple platforms. This helps to retain brand identification and gives customers a consistent experience.
• Flutter apps are built to native ARM code, so no bridge is required between the app and the platform. As a result, the app performs quickly and smoothly, equivalent to apps designed in traditional local languages.
• There are plenty of resources for learning and debugging available in Flutter. Its ecosystem contains several packages and libraries that can be used to increase functionality and solve common problems
• The use of a single codebase minimizes development and maintenance costs. This is beneficial for startups and small firms with limited resources.
• Flutter’s fast development cycle and hot reload capabilities make it a good alternative for rapid prototyping. Developers can more efficiently iterate on concepts and user feedback.
• The nature of Flutter’s architecture positions it well for future technological advancements. Its adaptability to changes and evolving platforms can help your applications stay relevant over time.

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Prerequisites to Install Flutter in Windows

1. Sufficient Disc Space
2. Windows PowerShell
3. Git is required to be installed on your system
4. Command Prompt is required
5. Install Android Studio and SDK for Android development.

How to Download and Install Flutter on Windows?

Follow the steps given below to install Flutter on your operating system.

Step 1: Go to Flutter. dev on your website. Select Docs > Install Flutter > Windows from the top navigation bar.

Step 2: Click the download link and navigate the Flutter Software Development Kit (Flutter SDK) installation page. A page will show up as shown below:

Flutter Software Development Kit is a set of tools and resources for developing mobile, desktop, and web-based applications. Flutter enables developers to develop high-quality applications using a single codebase for different platforms.

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Step 3: Extract the ‘flutter’ folder to any path/directory on the system where you get read and write access after downloading the zip file.

Step 4: Double-click the ‘flutter’ folder now. Double-click the ‘flutter_console.bat’ file to launch a command prompt window. The CMD will look as shown below:

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Step 5: Type ‘flutter’ in the CMD to see a list of all available flutter commands.

Step 6: Navigate to System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Environment Variables to edit environment variables. A dialogue box with a list of available environment variables will display. Edit these variables for global system access.

Step 7: Double-click the ‘Path’ variable and create a new entry by clicking on the column below.

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Step 8: Copy and paste the entire directory of the flutter\bin folder into the path. To finish the setup, click ‘Ok’ twice.

Step 9: Open Command Prompt, enter ‘flutter,’ and see whether you get the same list of commands as you did from the.bat terminal before.

Step 10: After this, determine whether anything is missing or needs further installation. To do so, open the Command Prompt terminal and type ‘Flutter Doctor’ to see if there are any further requirements.

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Flutter Installation FAQs

1. How to install Flutter on Windows?

Go to flutter.dev on your website. Select Docs > Get Started > Install > Windows from the top navigation bar. Step 2: Determine the System Requirements. You can now begin the installation.

2. How do I install Android Studio on Flutter?

Download the Android Studio from the website and complete the installation through follow up installation screens. Use the plugin manager to set up Android Studio with flutter.

3. Does Flutter use Android SDK?

Flutter doesn't directly use the Android SDK. It has its own tools for cross-platform operations. If you want Flutter to utilize a different Android SDK installation, you must set the ANDROID_SDK_ROOT environment variable to that path.  

4. How to download Flutter software development kit?

To download Flutter, go to the official website and select your operating system. Follow the installation instructions and then add the Flutter bin directory to your system's PATH.

Conclusion

Flutter addresses cross-platform development challenges by providing a robust and quick framework for creating high-quality apps that run smoothly across multiple platforms. This article helped you understand the basics of Flutter and how to install it on your computer. Its ease of use and developing ecosystem make it an effective tool for developers looking to create modern, engaging, and feature-rich applications.