Deprecate iOS Objective-C create template flutter create --ios-language objc -t plugin for new plugins

Very similar to #148586 for newly created plugins (not apps or plugin example apps).

We have metrics that show in 2024 Q1 less than 8% of flutter create -t plugin plugins were Objective-C. Deprecate and remove the flag and templates once that number reaches < 3% (making that number up..)

Add a deprecation warning that the flag will be removed in a future release. Let that sit for a stable release or so to see if we get complaints. Add deprecation warning for "flutter create --ios-language" #155867
Remove the --ios-language flag and plugin templates from the tool.

Users will still be able to add Objective-C code to their plugin or replace the Swift code that's there with Objective-C.

Deprecate and remove the flag and templates once that number reaches < 3% (making that number up..)

I'd also be comfortable with planning to remove it at the end of 2025 unless a compelling use case has been presented by then (i.e., one that can't be handled by the plugin developer making a mixed-mode plugin by adding Obj-C).

I just checked the usage again, for the last 90 days 4.1% of newly created plugins used Objective-C.

go/flutter-usage-create-ios-language (internal link)

That's faster drop-off than I expected for the long-tail usage. In that case, maybe we plan to remove it after the branch point for the next stable?

Down to 3.1% of newly created plugins used Objective-C. Branch is cut, let's do it.

Update help text to say something like

          '(deprecated) This command will be removed in a future version of Flutter.',

flutter/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/create.dart

Lines 73 to 74 in db1ede3

    
           '(deprecated) The language to use for iOS-specific code, either Swift (recommended) or Objective-C (legacy). ' 
        
           'Only supported for "--template=plugin".',

Delete

flutter/dev/devicelab/lib/tasks/plugin_tests.dart

Lines 423 to 431 in db1ede3

    
           if (template != 'plugin' && isDarwin) { 
        
             // ios-language option is only supported for plugins. Remove the -i flag and the next parameter, "swift" or 
        
             // "objc". This isn't proper arg parsing (for example doesn't handle -i=objc, but good enough for these tests 
        
             // since they blow up if -i is passed incorrectly. 
        
             final int indexOfIOSLanguage = options.indexOf('-i'); 
        
             if (indexOfIOSLanguage != -1) { 
        
               options.removeRange(indexOfIOSLanguage, indexOfIOSLanguage + 2); 
        
             } 
        
           }

Delete usage data

flutter/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands.shard/hermetic/create_usage_test.dart

Line 240 in db1ede3

'--ios-language=objc',

Delete

flutter/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands.shard/permeable/create_test.dart

Lines 700 to 701 in db1ede3

    
           '--ios-language', 
        
           'swift',

Strip out Objective-C logic from this test:

flutter/dev/devicelab/bin/tasks/plugin_lint_mac.dart

Line 51 in db1ede3

section('Create Objective-C plugin');

Deprecate Objective-C plugin template (#174003)

Deprecate Objective-C plugin template (flutter#174003)

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Deprecate Objective-C plugin template (flutter#174003)

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Deprecate iOS Objective-C create template `flutter create --ios-language objc -t plugin` for new plugins #169683

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	'(deprecated) The language to use for iOS-specific code, either Swift (recommended) or Objective-C (legacy). '
	'Only supported for "--template=plugin".',

	if (template != 'plugin' && isDarwin) {
	// ios-language option is only supported for plugins. Remove the -i flag and the next parameter, "swift" or
	// "objc". This isn't proper arg parsing (for example doesn't handle -i=objc, but good enough for these tests
	// since they blow up if -i is passed incorrectly.
	final int indexOfIOSLanguage = options.indexOf('-i');
	if (indexOfIOSLanguage != -1) {
	options.removeRange(indexOfIOSLanguage, indexOfIOSLanguage + 2);
	}
	}

Deprecate iOS Objective-C create template flutter create --ios-language objc -t plugin for new plugins #169683

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stuartmorgan-g commented on May 29, 2025

jmagman commented on May 29, 2025

stuartmorgan-g commented on May 30, 2025

jmagman commented on Aug 13, 2025

jmagman commented on Aug 13, 2025

github-actions commented on Sep 29, 2025

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Deprecate iOS Objective-C create template `flutter create --ios-language objc -t plugin` for new plugins #169683