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Buoy for Flutter: debugging tools in beta

Updated September 2026

Inspect Flutter debug builds in your app and on Buoy Desktop. The umbrella package registers the bundled tools; some require adapters or widget setup. A Buoy account is required. Flutter coverage differs from React Native.

Install

flutter pub add buoy

Create a Free Buoy account and copy your key from the dashboard. The umbrella package registers its bundled tools. Wrap your app as shown, then follow each tool guide for adapters and capture setup:

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:buoy/buoy.dart';

MaterialApp(
  builder: (context, child) => BuoyDevTools(
    deviceName: 'My App',
    licenseKey: const String.fromEnvironment('BUOY_LICENSE_KEY'),
    child: child ?? const SizedBox.shrink(),
  ),
)

Run with flutter run --dart-define=BUOY_LICENSE_KEY=your-key. These tools run only in debug mode. For Desktop, sign in and follow the connection guide; physical devices need a reachable socketUrl. Follow any platform setup required by the installed dependencies.

Check available versions and SDK requirements on pub.dev and compare them with your Flutter SDK.

The tools

The Flutter package includes the tools below. Camera runs separately through Buoy Desktop for supported iOS Simulator camera workflows. Some tools require app integration, noted below.

Network

Supported dart:io HttpClient traffic captured after setup, with available headers, bodies, timing, status and errors.

Storage

Inspect values from registered storage adapters. Editing and write events depend on the adapter and plan.

Console

Inspect supported logs captured after setup in a debug build.

Wrap main() so capture starts before your first log.

Env

The config values your app actually resolved, validated against the types and shapes you expect.

Routes

Your go_router sitemap and live navigation stack with params. Tap any route to jump straight to it.

One line: registerBuoyRoutes(router: yourRouter).

Images

Inspect image loads tracked through BuoyImage, including available cache and size information.

Wrap widgets in BuoyImage to track them.

Impersonate

Configure an impersonation flow that your backend authorizes and supported requests can use.

Image Overlay

Pin a design mockup over the running app to nail pixel-perfect UI, either free placement or locked to a component.

Wrap a widget in BuoyImageTarget for component match.

Events Timeline

Network, storage, state, and navigation merged into one chronological, LLM-ready stream you can hand to an AI.

Riverpod Inspector

Watch every provider's live value and each state change. It is the Flutter analog of the RN Jotai atom inspector.

Add the Buoy observer to your ProviderScope.

Perf Monitor

View available Flutter frame, CPU and memory metrics. Coverage depends on the platform and runtime.

Camera

Give the iOS Simulator a working camera: your Mac webcam, a region of your screen, an image, a video, or a barcode you type. Verified with Flutter's camera plugin for preview, frame stream, photo and video.

No package. Runs from Buoy Desktop; iOS Simulator only.

Full setup for each tool lives in the Flutter guide.

Same desktop, same MCP, same protocol

Flutter devices speak the exact same protocol as React Native. That means:

  • Buoy Desktop shows your Flutter device side by side with your React Native devices and displays the supported Flutter tools.
  • The Buoy MCP server reads and drives your Flutter app through the capabilities exposed by the Flutter SDK. Configure the connection and your account before using an MCP client.

Check each Flutter tool guide for its setup and supported Desktop or MCP actions.

Coming soon

  • Benchmarking & batch reports for the perf monitor. Today it's a live HUD with live metrics; recorded, comparable runs land next.
  • Dart Top, a "what's eating the thread" profiler, the Flutter analog of the React Native JS Top tool.

React Native only, for now

To be exact about what's not on Flutter yet: the React Query devtools, Redux and Zustand inspectors, render highlighting, debug borders, and JS Top are React Native tools and don't ship for Flutter. React Native remains Buoy's primary, most complete platform.

Is this the full Buoy suite?

Most of it. Eleven tools ship for Flutter today: network, storage, console, env, routes (go_router), images, impersonate, image overlay, events timeline, a Riverpod state inspector, and a live perf HUD. The Camera makes twelve and needs no package: Buoy Desktop gives the iOS Simulator a working camera, verified with the camera plugin. The React Query, Redux, Zustand, render-highlighting, and JS Top tools remain React Native only for now.

What does the network tool capture?

Everything using dart:io's HttpClient: package:http, dio, Flutter's own image loading, cached_network_image, and GraphQL clients. Known gaps: cupertino_http/cronet_http native clients, gRPC, secondary isolates, and Flutter web.

Does it need native setup?

Install the package, configure an account key and wrap your app. Several tools also need adapters, observers or widgets. Follow platform setup requirements from the installed dependencies.

Does it use the same desktop app and MCP server as React Native?

Yes. Configure your account and connection to use Flutter with Buoy Desktop. The basic MCP is free and Pro adds the full MCP. Both support the tools exposed by the Flutter SDK; coverage differs from React Native.

Is it free?

A Free account includes debug-build tools and Desktop at Free limits. Free includes the basic MCP. Pro adds the full MCP and paid features. Flutter tools remain debug-only on every plan.

Try the Flutter beta today

Start with a Free account and follow the Flutter setup guide. Debug builds only; Pro adds supported paid features.

Quick startflutter pub add buoy

sources

Capability claims on this page come from each vendor's own documentation, read on the date shown. We did not install and run every tool listed.