To run a Flutter app from VSCode on different devices (Android Emulator, Physical Android Device, Physical iOS Device) with a Django backend on Linux, follow these steps:

1. Run Django Backend

• Start Django Server:
  • Navigate to your Django project directory in the terminal.
  • Run the Django development server:

    python manage.py runserver
    

  • By default, Django runs on http://127.0.0.1:8000/. You can specify a different port by running:

    python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:<port_number>
    

  • For example, to run on port 8001, use:

    python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8001
    

  • Note the port where your Django server is running.

2. Configure Flutter App

• API Base URL in Flutter:
  • Update your Flutter app’s API base URL in the code (usually in lib/constants.dart or a similar file) to point to your Django backend:

    const String baseUrl = 'http://127.0.0.1:8000'; // Or the specific port you chose
    

  • If you’re using an Android emulator or a physical device, change the URL to the appropriate IP address:
    • Android Emulator: Use http://10.0.2.2:<port> (Emulator’s loopback address to localhost).
    • Physical Android/iOS Device: Replace 127.0.0.1 with your machine’s IP address.

3. Running on Devices

• A. Android Emulator

  • Start the Emulator:
    • Open the VSCode terminal and start the Android emulator using AVD Manager or command:

      emulator -avd <emulator_name>
      

    • Alternatively, you can start it from VSCode by clicking the device selector on the bottom status bar.
  • Run the Flutter App:
    • In VSCode, open the Flutter project.
    • Press F5 or use the “Run” menu and select “Start Debugging” to launch the app in the emulator.

• B. Physical Android Device

  • Enable Developer Mode and USB Debugging:
    • On your Android phone, enable Developer Options and USB Debugging.
  • Connect the Device:
    • Connect the phone to your Linux machine via USB.
  • Run the Flutter App:
    • In VSCode, select your device from the device selector at the bottom.
    • Press F5 or start debugging.

• C. Physical iOS Device

  • Connect the iPhone:
    • Connect your iPhone to your Linux machine via USB.
  • Start the App:
    • Ensure that your iPhone is trusted and developer mode is enabled.
    • In VSCode, select your iPhone from the device list.
    • Press F5 to run the app.
    • Note: On Linux, you may need a Mac for building and deploying to an iOS device due to Xcode requirements.

4. Port Details

• Django Backend: Default is 8000, but can be changed to any port.
• Flutter App:
  • Android Emulator: http://10.0.2.2:<port>
  • Physical Android/iOS Device: http://<your_machine_ip>:<port>

5. Accessing the Backend in Flutter

• Ensure that the device can reach the Django server:
  • If using a physical device, your machine’s IP address should be accessible from the device.
  • If using an emulator, use the special IP addresses mentioned above.

By following these steps, you can run your Flutter app on different devices with a Django backend on Linux. Make sure your backend server is accessible to the device or emulator.