Canonical, known for its Ubuntu Linux operating system, has teamed up with Google to support Linux desktop applications using the Flutter UI toolkit. As a result, Google has unveiled the Linux alpha version for Flutter.
This release allows developers to easily install the Flutter SDK through Snap, which is Ubuntu’s universal package manager. They can then create applications for Linux desktops and distribute them through Canonical’s app store, Snap Store.
What Is Flutter?
Flutter is a free and open-source platform that includes a UI Framework and an SDK (Software Development Kit) developed by Google. It is designed to create visually appealing applications for various platforms such as mobile, web, and desktop.
One of the main advantages of Flutter is that developers can build applications from a single codebase with a native look and performance. By learning Dart, a single programming language, developers can create apps for Android, Web, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Flutter For Linux
Initially, Flutter was introduced by Google for building Android and iOS apps using a shared codebase. Later on, Flutter was expanded to support the Web and desktop platforms. Following the release of the alpha version for macOS, Google has now introduced Flutter support for Linux distributions.
Focusing on Linux desktops, Google has partnered with Canonical to kick off this support starting with Ubuntu, the widely popular platform for developers. Canonical will collaborate closely with Google to offer guidance and support in integrating Flutter into Ubuntu and elevating Linux to a premier Flutter platform.
Check out a demo of the Flokk desktop app built using Flutter for Linux:
Install Flutter On Ubuntu And Other Linux Distros
Following the release of Linux alpha for Flutter, the Flutter SDK for Linux can now be directly installed from the Snap Store as a snap package. Therefore, prior to installing Flutter, ensure that Snap is installed on your system.
Most Linux distributions already include Snap, such as Ubuntu, Zorin OS, Solus, and Xubuntu. If Snap is not pre-installed on your system, refer to the provided instructions. Once Snap is configured, execute a single command to install the Flutter SDK from the Snap Store:
sudo snap install flutter --classicNow, you can launch your preferred code editor and commence developing Linux applications using Flutter. For guidance on initiating a Flutter desktop app for Linux, consult the official documentation.
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