[flutter_tools] Deprecate `plugin_ffi` template by dcharkes · Pull Request #181588 · flutter/flutter

dcharkes · 2026-01-28T08:53:52Z

Add deprecation marker to flutter create --template=plugin_ffi.

The new way of bundling native code is flutter create --template=package_ffi. (Or if the Flutter Plugin API or Android Play components need to be bundled: flutter create --template=plugin)

Issue:

Intention to deprecate and remove plugin_ffi template #131209

gemini-code-assist

Code Review

This pull request deprecates the plugin_ffi template in favor of package_ffi. The changes include adding a warning message when the deprecated template is used, updating the help text to reflect the deprecation, and adding corresponding tests to verify these changes. The implementation is straightforward and correct. I've added a couple of suggestions to improve the precision of the new test assertions.

gemini-code-assist · 2026-01-28T08:55:21Z

+      expect(templateHelp, contains('(deprecated)'));
+      expect(templateHelp, contains('Use "package_ffi" instead.'));


To make the test more precise and ensure the entire help message is correct, consider asserting against the full expected string instead of just parts of it. This prevents unintended changes to the middle of the string from going unnoticed.

expect( templateHelp, '(deprecated) Generate a shareable Flutter project containing an API ' 'in Dart code with a platform-specific implementation through dart:ffi for Android, iOS, ' 'Linux, macOS, Windows, or any combination of these. ' 'Use "package_ffi" instead.', );

gemini-code-assist · 2026-01-28T08:55:22Z

+    expect(logger.warningText, contains('The "plugin_ffi" template is deprecated'));
+    expect(logger.warningText, contains('Use the "package_ffi" template instead.'));
+    expect(
+      logger.warningText,
+      contains('https://docs.flutter.dev/platform-integration/bind-native-code'),
+    );


For better test precision and to ensure the entire deprecation message is accurate, it's preferable to check for the complete warning message in a single expect statement rather than checking for substrings in multiple statements. This makes the test more robust against unintended partial changes to the message.

expect( logger.warningText, contains( 'The "plugin_ffi" template is deprecated and will be removed in a future ' 'version of Flutter. Use the "package_ffi" template instead. ' 'For more information, see: ' 'https://docs.flutter.dev/platform-integration/bind-native-code', ), );

goderbauer · 2026-01-28T08:57:08Z

+        'The "plugin_ffi" template is deprecated and will be removed in a future '
+        'version of Flutter. Use the "package_ffi" template instead. '
+        'For more information, see: '
+        'https://docs.flutter.dev/platform-integration/bind-native-code',


This says that plugin_ffi is still useful in some cases. I believe, our plan was to update that (and redirect people elsewhere) before deprecating this? See #131209 (comment).

flutter/website#13004

Ah, yes. Thanks! Can you leave a breadcrumb to that in the PR description and make sure that gets submitted before this one?

goderbauer

LGTM after flutter/website#13004 is submitted.

stuartmorgan-g

LGTM

The new way of bundling native code is `flutter create --template=package_ffi`. (Or if the Flutter Plugin API or Android Play components need to be bundled: `flutter create --template=plugin`.) Issue: * flutter/flutter#131209 Related PRs: * flutter/flutter#181588 (We should submit this PR before that one.)

…utter#181588)

Roll Flutter from da72d5936d69 to 1d9d6a9a5ef6 (33 revisions) flutter/flutter@da72d59...1d9d6a9 2026-01-30 planetmarshall@users.noreply.github.com enable enhanced debugging for GLES playground (flutter/flutter#181157) 2026-01-30 matt.kosarek@canonical.com Make the Windows windowing_test in .ci.yaml have bringup as false (flutter/flutter#181664) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from cd4fd61 to 510dd40 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181726) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from edbf7e9eb846 to 4745eb2fe837 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#181725) 2026-01-30 kazbek.sultanov.doc@gmail.com Enhance error handling of WidgetsBindingObserver callbacks (flutter/flutter#181174) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 05d3cb9d2be9 to edbf7e9eb846 (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181715) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from c198e5fa9cd9 to 05d3cb9d2be9 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#181712) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from 920b7e24583e to 2703fd9733ce (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181693) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from b9f40c193e7a to c198e5fa9cd9 (6 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181692) 2026-01-30 137456488+flutter-pub-roller-bot@users.noreply.github.com Roll pub packages (flutter/flutter#181690) 2026-01-30 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com Extend the Windows tool_integration_tests_2_9 shard timeout to 1 hour (flutter/flutter#181678) 2026-01-29 34871572+gmackall@users.noreply.github.com Add `android_sdk` dependency to `android_engine_opengles_tests` (flutter/flutter#181681) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from a0685c8e946b to 920b7e24583e (3 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181680) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 128b5213711e to b9f40c193e7a (14 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181675) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com [Impeller] Ensure that HostBuffers/DeviceBuffers allocated by RendererTest tests are valid for the lifetime of the RenderPass (flutter/flutter#181635) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com [Impeller] Fix off-by-one indices in the SimilarPointPair/SimilarPointTrio functions used by ShadowPathGeometryTest (flutter/flutter#181623) 2026-01-29 anishtiwari5077@gmail.com 180162 fix radio list tile and switch list tile accept widget states controller (flutter/flutter#180367) 2026-01-29 116356835+AbdeMohlbi@users.noreply.github.com Remove unused test file (flutter/flutter#181671) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com Roll libpng to version 1.6.54 (flutter/flutter#181625) 2026-01-29 34871572+gmackall@users.noreply.github.com Remove nonstandard ndkpath for `hybrid_android_views` integration test (flutter/flutter#181666) 2026-01-29 34465683+rkishan516@users.noreply.github.com Add TestWidgetsApp utility and refactor widget tests to use WidgetsApp (flutter/flutter#180456) 2026-01-29 rmolivares@renzo-olivares.dev Add `TestTextField` and migrate tests (flutter/flutter#180494) 2026-01-29 jacksongardner@google.com Merge changelog for 3.38.9 (flutter/flutter#181668) 2026-01-29 dacoharkes@google.com [flutter_tools] Deprecate `plugin_ffi` template (flutter/flutter#181588) 2026-01-29 brackenavaron@gmail.com Deprecate onReorder callback (flutter/flutter#178242) 2026-01-29 zhongliu88889@gmail.com [web] Use defensive null check in text editing placeElement (flutter/flutter#180795) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from 1cb2148 to cd4fd61 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181663) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 89df65f8324c to 128b5213711e (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181651) 2026-01-29 dacoharkes@google.com [hooks] Don't run build hooks for code assets in `flutter run` (flutter/flutter#181542) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from f10dcbfca98f to a0685c8e946b (5 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181653) 2026-01-29 evanwall@buffalo.edu Fixes getUniformX for Vulkan (flutter/flutter#181286) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Fuchsia Linux SDK from adhoq9ouVRh0xzkm3... to isy1ARvK-3bsvtfc-... (flutter/flutter#181641) 2026-01-29 dmytro@turskyi.com Add isDark, isLight, and isSystem getters to ThemeMode (flutter/flutter#181475) If this roll has caused a breakage, revert this CL and stop the roller using the controls here: https://autoroll.skia.org/r/flutter-packages Please CC bmparr@google.com,stuartmorgan@google.com on the revert to ensure that a human is aware of the problem. To file a bug in Packages: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/new/choose To report a problem with the AutoRoller itself, please file a bug: https://issues.skia.org/issues/new?component=1389291&template=1850622 Documentation for the AutoRoller is here: ...

Add deprecation marker to `flutter create --template=plugin_ffi`. The new way of bundling native code is `flutter create --template=package_ffi`. (Or if the Flutter Plugin API or Android Play components need to be bundled: `flutter create --template=plugin)` Issue: * flutter#131209

…r#10931) Roll Flutter from da72d5936d69 to 1d9d6a9a5ef6 (33 revisions) flutter/flutter@da72d59...1d9d6a9 2026-01-30 planetmarshall@users.noreply.github.com enable enhanced debugging for GLES playground (flutter/flutter#181157) 2026-01-30 matt.kosarek@canonical.com Make the Windows windowing_test in .ci.yaml have bringup as false (flutter/flutter#181664) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from cd4fd61 to 510dd40 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181726) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from edbf7e9eb846 to 4745eb2fe837 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#181725) 2026-01-30 kazbek.sultanov.doc@gmail.com Enhance error handling of WidgetsBindingObserver callbacks (flutter/flutter#181174) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 05d3cb9d2be9 to edbf7e9eb846 (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181715) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from c198e5fa9cd9 to 05d3cb9d2be9 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#181712) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from 920b7e24583e to 2703fd9733ce (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181693) 2026-01-30 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from b9f40c193e7a to c198e5fa9cd9 (6 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181692) 2026-01-30 137456488+flutter-pub-roller-bot@users.noreply.github.com Roll pub packages (flutter/flutter#181690) 2026-01-30 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com Extend the Windows tool_integration_tests_2_9 shard timeout to 1 hour (flutter/flutter#181678) 2026-01-29 34871572+gmackall@users.noreply.github.com Add `android_sdk` dependency to `android_engine_opengles_tests` (flutter/flutter#181681) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from a0685c8e946b to 920b7e24583e (3 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181680) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 128b5213711e to b9f40c193e7a (14 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181675) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com [Impeller] Ensure that HostBuffers/DeviceBuffers allocated by RendererTest tests are valid for the lifetime of the RenderPass (flutter/flutter#181635) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com [Impeller] Fix off-by-one indices in the SimilarPointPair/SimilarPointTrio functions used by ShadowPathGeometryTest (flutter/flutter#181623) 2026-01-29 anishtiwari5077@gmail.com 180162 fix radio list tile and switch list tile accept widget states controller (flutter/flutter#180367) 2026-01-29 116356835+AbdeMohlbi@users.noreply.github.com Remove unused test file (flutter/flutter#181671) 2026-01-29 jason-simmons@users.noreply.github.com Roll libpng to version 1.6.54 (flutter/flutter#181625) 2026-01-29 34871572+gmackall@users.noreply.github.com Remove nonstandard ndkpath for `hybrid_android_views` integration test (flutter/flutter#181666) 2026-01-29 34465683+rkishan516@users.noreply.github.com Add TestWidgetsApp utility and refactor widget tests to use WidgetsApp (flutter/flutter#180456) 2026-01-29 rmolivares@renzo-olivares.dev Add `TestTextField` and migrate tests (flutter/flutter#180494) 2026-01-29 jacksongardner@google.com Merge changelog for 3.38.9 (flutter/flutter#181668) 2026-01-29 dacoharkes@google.com [flutter_tools] Deprecate `plugin_ffi` template (flutter/flutter#181588) 2026-01-29 brackenavaron@gmail.com Deprecate onReorder callback (flutter/flutter#178242) 2026-01-29 zhongliu88889@gmail.com [web] Use defensive null check in text editing placeElement (flutter/flutter#180795) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from 1cb2148 to cd4fd61 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181663) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 89df65f8324c to 128b5213711e (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181651) 2026-01-29 dacoharkes@google.com [hooks] Don't run build hooks for code assets in `flutter run` (flutter/flutter#181542) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from f10dcbfca98f to a0685c8e946b (5 revisions) (flutter/flutter#181653) 2026-01-29 evanwall@buffalo.edu Fixes getUniformX for Vulkan (flutter/flutter#181286) 2026-01-29 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Fuchsia Linux SDK from adhoq9ouVRh0xzkm3... to isy1ARvK-3bsvtfc-... (flutter/flutter#181641) 2026-01-29 dmytro@turskyi.com Add isDark, isLight, and isSystem getters to ThemeMode (flutter/flutter#181475) If this roll has caused a breakage, revert this CL and stop the roller using the controls here: https://autoroll.skia.org/r/flutter-packages Please CC bmparr@google.com,stuartmorgan@google.com on the revert to ensure that a human is aware of the problem. To file a bug in Packages: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/new/choose To report a problem with the AutoRoller itself, please file a bug: https://issues.skia.org/issues/new?component=1389291&template=1850622 Documentation for the AutoRoller is here: ...

[flutter_tools] Deprecate plugin_ffi template

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dcharkes requested review from bkonyi, goderbauer and stuartmorgan-g January 28, 2026 08:53

github-actions Bot added the tool Affects the "flutter" command-line tool. See also t: labels. label Jan 28, 2026

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dcharkes mentioned this pull request Jan 28, 2026

Remove references to plugin_ffi flutter/website#13004

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Roll Flutter from da72d5936d69 to 32aef9f3e2e1 (29 revisions) flutter/packages#10927

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		expect(templateHelp, contains('(deprecated)'));
		expect(templateHelp, contains('Use "package_ffi" instead.'));

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