Localized messages are generated into source, not a synthetic package.

The flutter tool will no longer generate a synthetic package:flutter_gen or modify the package_config.json of the app.

Applications or tools that referenced package:flutter_gen should instead reference source files generated into the app's source directory directly.

In addition, the property generate: true is now required when using generated l10n source.

flutter_gen is a virtual (synthetic) package that is created by the flutter command-line tool to allow developers to import that package to access generated symbols and functionality, such as for internationalization. As the package isn't listed in an app's pubspec.yaml, and is created via re-writing the generated package_config.json file, many problems have been created.

This change only affects apps that have the following entry in their pubspec.yaml:

flutter:
  generate: true

If your app previously used gen-l10n without this property, it is now required.

A synthetic package (package:flutter_gen) is created and referenced by the app:

import 'package:flutter_gen/gen_l10n/app_localizations.dart';
// ...
const MaterialApp(
  title: 'Localizations Sample App',
  localizationsDelegates: AppLocalizations.localizationsDelegates,
  supportedLocales: AppLocalizations.supportedLocales,
);

There are two ways to migrate away from importing package:flutter_gen:

1. Specify synthetic-package: false in the accompanying l10n.yaml file:

   l10n.yaml

   yaml

   synthetic-package: false
   ​
   # The files are generated into the path specified by `arb-dir`
   arb-dir: lib/i18n
   ​
   # Or, specifically provide an output path:
   output-dir: lib/src/generated/i18n
   

   content_copy

2. Enable the explicit-package-dependencies feature flag:

   sh

   flutter config --explicit-package-dependencies
   

   content_copy

Landed in version: 3.28.0-0.0.pre
Stable release: 3.32.0

In the next stable release after this change lands, package:flutter_gen support will be removed.

Relevant Issues:

• Issue 73870, where package:flutter_gen pub problems are first found.
• Issue 102983, where package:flutter_gen problems are outlined.
• Issue 157819, where --implicit-pubspec-resolution is discussed.

Relevant Articles:

• Internationalizing Flutter apps, the canonical documentation for the feature.