Soon after Google I/O’s announcement, Flutter 3 was released on May 11, 2022. Now with stabilized support for about six platforms (iOS, Android, web, Linux, MAC, and Windows) with a single codebase, Flutter 3 is infamous for developing cross-platform applications conveniently and effortlessly. Upgrade

Businesses with diverse target audiences on all such platforms can now use a common codebase to develop applications cost-efficiently. However, the upgrade is going to require more expertise, careful considerations, and a well-sought-out development plan. 

Thus, the need for Flutter 3 upgrade services is inevitable. The seasoned developers can help you with the do’s and don’ts to follow while upgrading your old Flutter project to the new Flutter 3 version. 

While it is best to rely on professionals for the upgrade, it is best for businesses to learn thoroughly about the process to ensure there are fewer mistakes. And this blog can help you with the ins and outs of upgrading to the new Flutter 3 version. 

But before that, let’s help you with some additional information about Flutter 3 and why you need to upgrade! 

What’s New in Flutter 3? 

• As we have already mentioned, the stable support for six operating systems makes it one of a kind framework. Businesses can cater to a more diverse audience while building a cost-efficient app. 
• The new Flutter casual games toolkit attracts the attention of businesses that are into creating casual games for users. While it is no match for high-end action 3D games, it is still exploring a new vertical of gaming applications with its casual gaming toolkit. 
• With the support for Material 3, Flutter apps can now be built for attractive and engaging UIs. 
• Flutter 3 now extends its support for foldable smartphones, diversifying its customer base. 
• Release for iOS applications has been made easier in this new version release of Flutter. 
• Improved Flutter Firebase integration is likely to enhance the functionality of these applications. 

When Should You Upgrade to Flutter 3? 

• If you are using an outdated Flutter version, you need the upgrade. 
• In case you need to extend your app’s support for multiple platforms. 
• If you want to create a casual gaming app. 
• You want to leverage the new features and improvements for your Flutter app project. 

There can be multiple reasons why you need to upgrade to Flutter 3. Irrespective of the reason, you need to ensure the upgrade or migration process goes smoothly so that there’s no data loss and all the features remain intact. 

For that, let’s read further! 

How to Upgrade to Flutter 3? 

Upgrading to Flutter 3 can be as easy as downloading the Flutter software development kit and getting started with it. Only that, it’s not. It requires a lot of backup, upgrades, considerations, and more! 

Lucky for you, we have got you covered about the procedure you need to follow to proceed with the upgrade. Let’s check. 

Migrate your dependencies 

When Flutter app developers proceed with the migration process, they try and migrate the dependencies before they start with the upgrade. The reason why one has to do this is that enabling “sound null safety” won’t be possible otherwise. 

You can create a list of all the Dart libraries that are ready for migration and those which aren’t. It should help you spot the dependencies and proceed with the migration process. 

Map your Flutter app features 

Whether or not you contact a Flutter 3 upgrade company for the job, it is vital to have an idea of how vast or how small the migration would be. Mapping your existing Flutter app features is a necessary step at this point. You need to track which features have already been migrated and which are yet to be migrated. One can create folders and subfolders to map all these features and ensure the migration process takes place as smoothly as it should.  

Plan ahead 

Starting the Flutter 3 upgrade requires you to plan ahead as a large project could take weeks of time to complete the migration. And the company could find itself in a pickle while it is still midway. 

Having a plan also helps when you avail of Flutter upgrade services. You will be able to plan the migration in different segments. Choose which sections to upgrade when, and plan for test runs and other processes. 

Code migration 

It is a daunting process and one needs to pass through multiple stages to complete the code migration. Here are a few things you need to do in this stage – 

• Set your existing Flutter and Dart versions on pubspec.yaml before you start updating the libraries. One also has to ensure that there is no error when you try to run Flutter pub get. 
• If any build runner issue is present, try to fix them. 
• Migrate codes from the leaf class. 
• Fix any/all runtime errors of your Flutter application during migration. 

Upgrade to Flutter 3 

You can proceed with the Flutter 3 upgrade in three simple steps, as mentioned below – 

Upgrade Flutter SDK – All you have to do is use the ‘Flutter Upgrade’ command in your Flutter SDK to upgrade it to the latest version of Flutter 3 in your existing channel. In case you need to upgrade it to the most latest version, you can change your channel to a less stable one and then upgrade to the latest one. 

Switch Flutter channels – You have three release channels for Flutter – Alpha, Beta, & Master. It is best to use the most stable channel. However, you can use any other if you want the most recent Flutter version for use. 

Write ‘$ flutter channel’ to see your existing channel. You can change your Flutter channel by writing ‘Flutter channel <channel-name>’. As of now, the stable channel version is Flutter 3.0.5. 

Upgrade Flutter packages – 

To upgrade all the dependencies as mentioned in pubspec.yaml, write ‘flutter pub upgrade’ command. 

Whereas, to locate outdated package dependencies for your Flutter 3 upgrade, you can try writing ‘Flutter pub outdated’. 

After the upgrade is done, one also needs to test the upgrades and see if it is working properly or not. While this gives you a brief idea of how things proceed when you try to upgrade to a new Flutter 3 version, hiring professional Flutter app developers can help you substantially. You don’t have to worry about critical issues like data loss, redundancy, migration issues, etc. 

Summary

Upgrading your old Flutter mobile app to the new Flutter 3 verison requires data migration, moving libraries, dependencies, features, running tests, and a lot more. Proceed with the steps mentioned here to ensure a smooth upgrade to Flutter 3. 

Author Bio

Maulik Shah is the CEO of BiztechCS, a development company. He often takes the front seat in the company’s development projects, because he enjoys solving problems through technology. When it comes to writing for any blog, his contribution is priceless. Maulik ensures that his interaction with development is frequent enough, and his industry knowledge is ever-evolving, that he can share it. Despite his packed days, Maulik’s door is always open and he is generous with sharing this knowledge and experience.