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If you’re working in quality assurance or software development with Flutter, managing multiple Flutter versions is crucial for maintaining compatibility across projects. This is especially true for quality testers who must ensure a consistent testing environment. Using the Flutter Version Manager (FVM) on Mac can simplify this task, allowing easy switching between Flutter versions. This guide covers everything you need to know about How to Install & Setup FVM in Mac, from installation to configuration, so you can streamline your testing workflows.
Flutter Version Manager (FVM) allows developers and testers to switch Flutter SDK versions easily, avoiding compatibility issues and dependency conflicts. In quality testing, especially when dealing with legacy code or different Flutter versions across projects, FVM can significantly improve efficiency and control.
Before setting up FVM on Mac, ensure that you have Homebrew, a package manager for macOS, as it simplifies the installation process. If not installed, you can install Homebrew by opening Terminal and entering:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Once Homebrew is installed, you can install FVM with a simple command. In Terminal, type:
brew tap leoafarias/fvm brew install fvm
This command uses the Homebrew package manager to install FVM directly, ensuring you have the latest, stable version.
To ensure that FVM is installed correctly, run:
fvm --version
If FVM is installed successfully, you should see the installed version number in the Terminal. Verifying the installation ensures that FVM commands are accessible and ready for managing Flutter versions.
Once FVM is set up, you can install specific Flutter versions. This is especially useful for testing applications on different versions to ensure backward compatibility. To install a specific Flutter version, use the command:
fvm install <flutter_version>
Replace <flutter_version> with the desired version number. For instance, to install Flutter version 3.0.0, enter:
<flutter_version>
fvm install 3.2.1
Once the desired Flutter versions are installed, you can set a default version per project. This feature is beneficial for testers working across multiple projects with different version requirements. Navigate to your project’s root directory and use:
fvm use <flutter_version>
fvm use 3.2.1
This command links the specified version to the project, ensuring that any FVM-based commands will use it, helping maintain consistency in your testing environment.
After setting up FVM for your project, running Flutter commands via FVM ensures the project uses the specified Flutter version. Instead of using the usual flutter command, prepend commands with fvm flutter. For example:
flutter
fvm flutter
fvm flutter run
This command will launch the project using the project-linked Flutter version, allowing testers to verify functionality across specific Flutter releases seamlessly.
For users who frequently switch between Flutter versions, configuring shell settings can streamline command execution. Adding an alias to your shell configuration file (like .zshrc or .bash_profile) allows you to run fvm flutter as flutter.
.zshrc
.bash_profile
Open your shell profile file in a text editor, and add:
nano ~/.zshrc
Add FVM Path: Paste this line to make FVM easily accessible:
alias flutter="fvm flutter"
Save and Exit: Press CTRL + X to save, and then source your shell profile with:
CTRL + X
source ~/.zshrc
Now, you can run FVM-configured Flutter commands directly by simply typing flutter <command>, and FVM will handle version management in the background.
flutter <command>
Setting up FVM on Mac offers quality testers a streamlined approach to managing Flutter versions. This setup not only enhances efficiency but also allows seamless version switching, crucial for testing across varied environments. By following this guide on “How to Install & Setup FVM in Mac,” you ensure each project maintains its version dependencies, minimizing compatibility issues and improving test accuracy. Now, with FVM, managing multiple Flutter versions becomes a breeze, making it an invaluable tool in the quality testing toolkit.
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