If you’ve decided to step away from Microsoft tools but still want the power of Flutter in your continuous integration and deployment pipelines, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through the steps necessary to set up and utilize Flutter within Azure DevOps. Let’s get started!

Installation

First, you need to install the Flutter build task from the Visual Studio Marketplace. Follow these steps:

• Go to the Visual Studio Marketplace.
• Search for “Flutter.”
• Click on the “Install” button to add the Flutter task to your Azure DevOps environment.

Using the Flutter Build Task

Now that you have Flutter installed, it’s time to add tasks to your build definition. Let’s break this down into three primary tasks: Install, Build, and Test.

1. Install

The Install task is like planting a seed — it ensures that the Flutter SDK is available before you proceed with anything else. If the SDK is not already installed on the agent, it will take care of that for you.

• Choose the Flutter channel: stable (default), beta, or dev.
• Pick the SDK version: latest (default) or custom.
• If you choose custom, specify the version in the M.m.p semver format.

2. Build

The Build task is akin to nurturing your plant as it grows — converting your code into a mobile application. Here’s how it works:

• You’ll specify the project directory that contains the pubspec.yaml file.
• Select your target platform: Android (default), iOS, or All for both.
• Optionally, set paths, package names, build flavors, and any additional custom commands as per your project needs.

Once executed, all application bundles are generated in the build outputs folder of your project.

3. Test

The Test task is like assessing the health of your plant — it ensures everything is functioning correctly. It allows you to run tests and publish results as build reports.

• Select the project source directory that has the pubspec.yaml file.
• Optionally, set specific test names and determine the number of concurrent test processes.

Commands

You can also run custom Flutter commands using custom arguments, which is ideal for advanced users who wish to exercise greater control.

FAQ

Flutter command isn’t recognized?

Ensure that you have the Flutter Install task at the beginning of your build definition.

Can I run a custom Flutter command?

Absolutely! Post the Flutter Install task, the FlutterToolPath environment variable will point you to the bin directory of the Flutter SDK. You can use $(FlutterToolPath) in subsequent tasks.

Can I run a Dart program?

Yes! A Dart runtime is included with Flutter tools. Here’s an example YAML task to execute a Dart program:

yaml
- task: CmdLine@2
  displayName: Execute Dart program
  inputs:
    script: $(FlutterToolPath)cachedart-sdkbindart program.dart arg1 arg2
    workingDirectory: src

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, first check that you followed the installation and usage steps correctly. Common problems often originate from incorrect paths and missing variables. The key is to ensure everything is set up correctly from the start.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

With just a few straightforward steps, you can integrate Flutter into your Azure DevOps pipeline, enhancing your mobile development workflow significantly. By treating the tasks like different phases of plant growth, from installation to testing, you can ensure that your application flourishes in any environment.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.