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Decide on Windows desktop build tooling #52753

@stuartmorgan-g

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@stuartmorgan-g

Currently we're using vcxproj files and a Visual Studios sln file to drive the Windows runner and plugin builds. Another option that has come up is using CMake.

Pros:

  • It is text-based, making it far easier for someone who doesn't have VS experience (which I expect will be the vast majority of Flutter developers) to understand and edit. Also easier to manage in version control.
  • We'll be using it for Linux, so this would slightly reduce the number of build systems a Flutter developer might need to interact with.
  • It's used by vcpkg, which may end up be the plugin dependency management system for plugins.
  • Visual Studio has CMake integration, so it should still give a reasonable experience in the IDE (we'd want to test that out with a project)

Cons:

  • It's an extra dependency (although it can be installed via VS, so this should be straightforward using our existing component check system).
  • For people with Windows development experience (e.g., potential plugin authors) it may mean a new build system to learn rather than what they are already comfortable with.

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P1High-priority issues at the top of the work lista: buildBuilding flutter applications with the toola: desktopRunning on desktopplatform-windowsBuilding on or for Windows specificallytoolAffects the "flutter" command-line tool. See also t: labels.

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