Ever experienced issues like an app failing to run or performing slowly when launching a Flutter project from an IDE to an emulator or device? Try using the ‘flutter run’ command as a more stable and efficient alternative.
Running a Flutter project from the IDE can be resource-intensive and slow, especially on older or less powerful machines or when dealing with complex projects. The IDE compiles a lot of additional resources, which can lead to high CPU usage, slow UI responsiveness, or even occasional crashes.
But there’s a simpler alternative. You can keep your code open in the IDE as usual but run the project using the flutter run command in the terminal. Surprisingly, this not only increases the chances of successfully running the application but also significantly reduces compile and runtime compared to running it directly from the IDE!. Here’s the explanation:
Table of Contents
Understanding the Problem: Why the IDE Can Be Sluggish
IDEs are powerful tools that provide a comprehensive development environment, but this power comes with a cost. Here’s why running your Flutter project from the IDE can slow you down:
- Background Processes: IDEs run background services like syntax highlighting, error checking, and code analysis.
- Debugging Tools: Built-in debuggers, breakpoints, and widget inspectors consume additional resources.
- UI Overhead: The IDE’s graphical interface uses memory, especially when running emulators or simulators.
- Resource Usage: All these features combined can make the IDE slow, laggy, and resource-intensive.
Why flutter run Is Lighter and Faster
When you run your app using the flutter run command from the terminal, it bypasses many of the resource-heavy features that the IDE typically runs in the background.
Benefits of Using flutter run:
- ✅ Minimal Overhead: Only the necessary Dart and Flutter processes are executed.
- ✅ Reduced Memory Usage: No GUI to manage hot reload or debug output.
- ✅ Faster Start and Build Times: Fewer background tasks slow down the process.
- ✅ Less Verbose Logging: By default, it provides fewer logs than the IDE.
- ✅ Direct CLI Commands: Quick access to hot reload and restart using:
- r – Hot reload
- R – Hot restart
- q – Quit the app
- d – Detach (terminate the command but keep the app running)
What You Lose When Using flutter run
While flutter run is faster and lighter, it comes with some trade-offs:
- ❌ No Visual Debugging: You can’t set breakpoints or inspect variables. However, you can still use
print()statements for basic debugging. - ❌ Limited DevTools Integration: You can still use DevTools, but when inspecting a widget, it won’t automatically highlight the corresponding code in the IDE.
- ❌ No Clickable Hot Reload/Restart/Stop Buttons: You must use terminal commands instead of IDE buttons.
- ❌ No Auto-Reload on Code Changes: You must manually trigger hot reload by pressing r in the terminal.
Best Cases for Using flutter run
- Quick UI Testing: Ideal for making minor UI adjustments or quick fixes.
- Performance Testing: Great for checking performance without the IDE overhead.
- Debugging with Print Statements: Use
print()for simple debugging instead of breakpoints. - Manual DevTools Launch: If needed, activate DevTools manually with:
flutter pub global activate devtools
When to Use the IDE Instead
Despite its advantages, flutter run isn’t always the best choice. Use the IDE when you need:
- Detailed Debugging: Setting breakpoints and stepping through code.
- Performance Profiling: Visualizing memory and CPU usage in real time.
- Integrated Tools: Widget inspection, linting, and testing plugins.
- Complex Project Management: Navigating multiple files, analyzing dependencies, and managing build configurations.
- Powerful Hardware: If your machine handles the IDE without lagging, stick with it for a richer development experience.
Conclusion: Balancing CLI and IDE Usage
Using flutter run instead of the IDE can significantly improve compile and runtime performance, especially for quick iterations and minor fixes. However, don’t dismiss the IDE completely — it’s still essential for more complex debugging, profiling, and plugin support.
Try integrating flutter run into your workflow, especially if your machine is struggling with IDE performance. It’s all about finding the right balance between speed and functionality.
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