Building a Flutter SDK: Breaking Down a Flutter Package — Part One

Creating a Flutter package is generally simpler than in other app development frameworks, particularly if you are already familiar with Flutter app development. The process of developing an SDK in Flutter, as described through the example of Stream Chat, involves building packages that can incorporate diverse functionalities such as UI elements and offline storage. A Flutter package is a pre-built collection of code designed to save time by allowing developers to reuse existing code, and it can include various components like widgets and libraries. The distinction between packages and plugins is noted, with packages being pure Dart code and plugins including native code. Important files in a Flutter package include the central Dart file, which controls what is exposed to the app, and the pubspec.yaml, which contains metadata and dependencies. Licensing is crucial for open-source development, and different licenses such as MIT and GPL have specific implications for code use. The README.md and CHANGELOG.md files serve as essential documentation sources, and a CONTRIBUTING.md file can guide community involvement. Publishing a package involves specific steps and can be done on platforms like pub.dev or through private repositories. The article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Flutter package structuring and publishing, with future content promising to delve into more complex SDK aspects.