How to Retrieve the Build and Version Number of a Flutter App

19 December 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When developing a Flutter application, especially during the beta phase, it’s essential to display the build and version number to users. This guide provides a comprehensive solution to programmatically fetch these details within your Flutter app.

Using the package_info_plus Plugin

The package_info_plus plugin is the most efficient way to retrieve the app’s build and version number. This plugin is the updated version of the deprecated package_info plugin and is maintained by the Flutter Community Plus Plugins. Here’s how to implement it:

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Add the Dependency:

   Include the package_info_plus dependency in your pubspec.yaml file:

   dependencies:
     package_info_plus: ^1.0.6

2. Import the Package:

   Add the following import statement in your Dart file:

   import 'package:package_info_plus/package_info_plus.dart';

3. Retrieve Version Information:

   If your method is marked as async, you can use the following code to fetch the app details:

   PackageInfo packageInfo = await PackageInfo.fromPlatform();
   
   String appName = packageInfo.appName;
   String packageName = packageInfo.packageName;
   String version = packageInfo.version;
   String buildNumber = packageInfo.buildNumber;

   If you prefer not to use await/async, you can use the then method:

   PackageInfo.fromPlatform().then((PackageInfo packageInfo) {
     String appName = packageInfo.appName;
     String packageName = packageInfo.packageName;
     String version = packageInfo.version;
     String buildNumber = packageInfo.buildNumber;
   });

Alternative Approaches

While the package_info_plus plugin is highly recommended, there are alternative methods like using a FutureBuilder widget to directly integrate version fetching within the widget tree, or employing Dart scripts for version extraction from pubspec.yaml. However, these alternatives may not offer the same level of convenience or reliability.

Enhancing Your Testing with Repeato

As you develop and test your Flutter application, consider using Repeato, a no-code test automation tool. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for your iOS and Android apps efficiently. Its computer vision and AI capabilities ensure that your tests are not only fast to edit and run but also highly reliable. This can be particularly beneficial when verifying app versioning and functionality across different platforms.

Check it out!

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