Solving the Image Picker Conundrum in Flutter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of encountering errors when adding the image_picker package to your Flutter project and running the ./android>./gradlew build command? You’re not alone! Many developers have faced this issue, and it’s time to put an end to the frustration. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of resolving these errors and getting your Flutter project up and running with the image_picker package.

Understanding the Error

Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a closer look at the error message you’re seeing:

./android>./gradlew build

The error message may vary, but it usually indicates a problem with the Android build process. This could be due to a multitude of reasons, including:

• Incompatible versions of Gradle or the Android Gradle plugin
• Misconfigured build.gradle files
• Missing or incorrect dependencies in the pubspec.yaml file
• Invalid or corrupted project structure

Step 1: Verify Your Project Structure

The first step in resolving the error is to ensure your project structure is correct. Make sure you have the following directories and files:

MyFlutterProject/
android/
app/
build.gradle
...
ios/
...
lib/
main.dart
pubspec.yaml
test/
...

If your project structure is incorrect or missing essential files, create a new Flutter project using the command:

flutter create MyFlutterProject

Step 2: Add the image_picker Package

Add the image_picker package to your pubspec.yaml file:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  image_picker: ^0.8.3+2

Then, run the following command to get the package:

flutter pub get

Step 3: Configure the Android Build

Open the android/build.gradle file and ensure the following configurations are in place:

buildscript {
  ext.kotlin_version = '1.6.10'
  repositories {
    google()
    jcenter()
  }

  dependencies {
    classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:4.1.0'
    classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version"
  }
}

allprojects {
  repositories {
    google()
    jcenter()
  }
}

Next, open the android/app/build.gradle file and add the following configurations:

android {
  ...
  defaultConfig {
    ...
    minSdkVersion 21
    targetSdkVersion 29
  }
}

dependencies {
  implementation 'com.android.support:support-v4:28.0.0'
}

Step 4: Add Permissions and Features

Add the following permissions and features to your android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml file:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera"/>
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera.autofocus"/>

Step 5: Run the Build Command

Finally, run the following command to build your Android application:

./android>./gradlew build

If you’ve followed the steps correctly, the build process should complete successfully, and you should be able to use the image_picker package in your Flutter project.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after following the steps above, you may still encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Error: “Could not find method implementation() for arguments [com.android.support:support-v4:28.0.0]”

Solution: Update your gradle version to the latest one. Open the android/build.gradle file and change the classpath to the latest version:

classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:4.2.0'

Error: “Failed to resolve: com.android.support:support-v4:28.0.0”

Solution: Add the Google Maven repository to your android/build.gradle file:

repositories {
  google()
  jcenter()
}

Error: ” Android dependency ‘androidx.core:core’ has different version for the compile (1.0.0) and runtime (1.1.0) classpath”

Solution: Update your androidx.core:core dependency to the latest version. Open the android/app/build.gradle file and change the implementation to:

implementation 'androidx.core:core-ktx:1.3.2'

Conclusion

Adding the image_picker package to your Flutter project can be a breeze if you follow the correct steps. By verifying your project structure, adding the package, configuring the Android build, adding permissions and features, and running the build command, you should be able to use the image_picker package without any issues. Remember to troubleshoot common issues by updating your gradle version, adding the Google Maven repository, and updating your androidx.core:core dependency. Happy coding!

Step	Description
1	Verify your project structure
2	Add the image_picker package to your pubspec.yaml file
3	Configure the Android build
4	Add permissions and features to your AndroidManifest.xml file
5	Run the build command

Note: The above article is optimized for the keyword “In Flutter project When I add image_picker and run ./android>./gradlew build I’m getting errors”. The article provides a comprehensive guide to resolving the errors encountered when adding the image_picker package to a Flutter project.

Frequently Asked Question

If you’re struggling to add image_picker to your Flutter project, you’re not alone! Here are some common issues and their solutions to get you back on track.