CLI Reference

Complete reference for all flutter_compile commands. The fcp alias works everywhere flutter_compile does.

Global Flags

Flag	Description
`--version`, `-v`	Print the current version
`--verbose`	Noisy logging, including all shell commands executed
`--help`, `-h`	Print usage information

Command Overview

Command	Alias	Description
`build`	`b`	Build engine development artifacts
`clean`	`c`	Remove engine build output directories
`config`	`cf`	View and modify configuration
`daemon`	—	Start JSON-RPC 2.0 daemon for IDE communication
`doctor`	`dr`	Check environment health
`install`	`i`	Set up development environments
`migrate`	—	Migrate shell PATH to dedicated env file
`run`	`r`	Run Flutter app with local engine build
`sdk`	—	Manage Flutter SDK versions
`status`	`st`	Show engine configuration and builds
`switch`	`s`	Switch between normal and compiled Flutter
`sync`	`sy`	Sync contributor environments with upstream
`test`	`t`	Run Flutter tests with local engine build
`ui`	—	Open interactive terminal UI dashboard
`uninstall`	`delete`, `remove`	Uninstall development environments
`update`	`up`	Update the CLI

sdk

Manage Flutter SDK versions. See the SDK Management guide for detailed workflows.

sdk install

flutter_compile sdk install <version|channel> [--force]

Install a specific Flutter SDK version or the latest from a channel (stable, beta, dev, master). The first SDK installed is automatically set as the global default.

Flag	Description
`--force`	Remove existing SDK and re-install from scratch

sdk list

flutter_compile sdk list [--json]

List all installed Flutter SDK versions. Entries are annotated with (global) and (project) markers.

sdk global

flutter_compile sdk global [<version>]

Show or set the global default Flutter SDK version.

sdk use

flutter_compile sdk use [<version>]

Show or pin a Flutter SDK version for the current project. Creates a .flutter-version file in the project root.

sdk exec

flutter_compile sdk exec <command> [args...]

Run a command through the resolved SDK. Resolution order: project .flutter-version → global default.

# Examples
flutter_compile sdk exec flutter doctor
flutter_compile sdk exec dart analyze
flutter_compile sdk exec flutter pub get

sdk remove

flutter_compile sdk remove <version>

Remove an installed Flutter SDK. Guards against removing the global default or project-pinned SDK.

build

build engine

flutter_compile build engine [flags]

Build the Flutter engine from source. Automatically prepends depot_tools to PATH.

Flag	Short	Default	Description
`--platform`	`-p`	`host`	Target platform: android, ios, macos, linux, web, host
`--cpu`	`-c`	—	Target CPU: arm, arm64, x64
`--mode`	`-m`	`debug`	Build mode: debug, profile, release
`--unoptimized`	—	`true`	Build with --unoptimized (faster dev builds)
`--simulator`	—	`false`	Build for iOS simulator
`--clean`	—	`false`	Clean output before building
`--gn`	—	—	Force re-running GN
`--no-gn`	—	—	Skip GN step entirely

run

flutter_compile run [flags] [-- extra_args]

Run a Flutter app with a local engine build. Extra args after -- are forwarded to flutter run.

Flag	Short	Default	Description
`--platform`	`-p`	`host`	Target platform
`--cpu`	`-c`	—	Target CPU architecture
`--mode`	`-m`	`debug`	Build mode
`--unoptimized`	—	`true`	Use unoptimized engine build
`--simulator`	—	`false`	Use iOS simulator engine build

test

flutter_compile test [flags] [-- extra_args]

Run Flutter tests with a local engine build. Same flags as run. Extra args after -- are forwarded to flutter test.

install

Set up contributor development environments. See the Contributor Setup guide for walkthroughs.

install flutter

flutter_compile install flutter [--ide vscode|intellij]

Clone the Flutter framework repository and set up git remotes. Prompts for SSH vs HTTPS and GitHub username.

install engine

flutter_compile install engine [--platform <platform>] [--force]

Set up the engine build environment (depot_tools + gclient). Requires install flutter first.

install devtools

flutter_compile install devtools

Clone the DevTools repository and set up git remotes.

uninstall

flutter_compile uninstall <flutter|devtools|engine>

Remove a contributor environment. Cleans up directories, PATH exports, and config entries.

sync

flutter_compile sync [flutter|engine|devtools]

Sync contributor environments with upstream. Running sync without a subcommand syncs all three sequentially.

Subcommand	Actions
`sync flutter`	Fetch upstream, rebase master, update-packages
`sync engine`	gclient sync, ninja build (add `--force` for reset)
`sync devtools`	Fetch upstream, rebase master, pub get

clean

flutter_compile clean [<build_name>] [--all]

Remove engine build output directories.

No args: list available builds
clean <build_name>: delete a specific build
clean --all: delete all builds

status

flutter_compile status [--json]

Show engine configuration and available builds with disk sizes.

config

flutter_compile config [list|get|set] [--json]

View and modify ~/.flutter_compilerc settings. See Configuration for details.

doctor

flutter_compile doctor [--json]

Check the health of your Flutter contributor environment. Reports on required tools, engine tools, config validity, and contributor environments.

switch

flutter_compile switch [normal|compiled]

Switch between normal and compiled Flutter installations. Shortcuts: n for normal, c for compiled.

daemon

flutter_compile daemon

Start a JSON-RPC 2.0 daemon for real-time IDE communication over stdin/stdout. See Daemon API Reference.

ui

flutter_compile ui

Open an interactive terminal UI dashboard with tabs for SDKs, Environments, Builds, and Doctor.

migrate

flutter_compile migrate

Migrate shell PATH exports from shell RC files to the dedicated ~/.flutter_compile_env file. Rewrites SDK blocks with the FLUTTER_COMPILE_SDK guard.

update

flutter_compile update

Check for and install the latest version from pub.dev. Also runs auto-migration on shell config.