# Flutter Inlay
[](https://pub.dev/packages/inlay)
[](https://pub.dev/packages/inlay_gen)
[](https://pub.dev/packages/inlay_compose)
An opinionated Flutter add-to-app framework providing **type-safe navigation** and **cross-platform state sharing** for apps that embed Flutter inside a native iOS or Android host.
## Packages
| Package | Role |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`inlay`](inlay/) | Core framework plugin (Dart + Swift + Kotlin) - navigation, storage, appearance |
| [`inlay_gen`](inlay_gen/) | Code generator - typed route and store classes for Dart, Kotlin, Swift (and Java routes) from annotated schemas |
| [`inlay_compose`](inlay_compose/) | Optional Jetpack Compose integration - embed inlay screens and dialogs in Compose apps |
## Why
Integrating Flutter into an existing native app is painful:
- **Navigation** - There are no official guidelines for seamless navigation between native and Flutter screens. The typical approach is raw `MethodChannel` calls with arbitrary strings, which is error-prone and not type-safe.
- **State** - There is no standard way to share data between native code and Flutter, especially when multiple Flutter screens (engines) are involved.
This framework solves both problems with a code-generation-driven, type-safe approach. Engine management (based on `FlutterEngineGroup`) is handled for you behind the scenes.
## Features
- **Navigation** - Type-safe routing between Native and Flutter screens (in both directions), with code-generated route classes for Dart, Swift, and Kotlin (or Java). Screens can return a typed **result** to their caller (declare `result:` on the route).
- **Shared State** - A key-value storage layer that stays in sync across all Flutter engines and native code. Changes made anywhere are automatically broadcast to all other consumers.
- **Engine Management** - The framework creates and destroys Flutter engines automatically. You never interact with `FlutterEngineGroup` directly (unless you want to).
- **Theme & Locale Propagation** - `InlayAppearance` lets the host drive dark mode and an in-app language override across every Flutter engine, live (see [State Management](docs/state.md)).
## Quick Start
### 1. Define routes (Dart)
```dart
// A Flutter screen - navigable from native or from other Flutter screens
@InlayFlutterRoute('/sounds-notifications/:contactId')
class SoundsNotificationsPage {
const SoundsNotificationsPage({required this.contactId});
final String contactId;
}
// A Flutter dialog - rendered by Flutter over a native screen
@InlayFlutterDialog('/confirm-delete/:itemId')
class ConfirmDeleteDialog {
const ConfirmDeleteDialog({required this.itemId});
final String itemId;
}
// A native screen - navigable from Flutter
@InlayNativeRoute()
class NativeEditProfilePage {
const NativeEditProfilePage({required this.contactId});
final String contactId;
}
```
Run code generation to produce type-safe route classes for **Dart, Swift, and Kotlin** (and **Java**, for Android hosts written in Java).
### 2. Navigate
From **Dart** (Flutter):
```dart
// Open a Flutter screen (creates a new native container with a Flutter engine)
await InlayNavigator.instance.push(
SoundsNotificationsPage(contactId: 'abc-123'),
);
// Open a native screen from Flutter
await InlayNavigator.instance.push(
NativeEditProfilePage(contactId: 'abc-123').toNativeRoute(),
);
```
From **Swift** (iOS):
```swift
InlayNavigator.shared.push(
from: viewController,
route: SoundsNotificationsPage(contactId: "abc-123"),
animated: true
)
```
From **Kotlin** (Android):
```kotlin
InlayNavigator.push(context, SoundsNotificationsPage(contactId = "abc-123"))
```
From **Java** (Android):
```java
InlayNavigator.INSTANCE.push(context, new SoundsNotificationsPage("abc-123"));
```
For Jetpack Compose support add the optional `inlay_compose` plugin alongside `inlay` in your module's `pubspec.yaml`. Projects that don't use Compose depend only on `inlay` - no Compose transitive dependencies. On iOS the module can be embedded through **Swift Package Manager** (Flutter 3.44+) or CocoaPods - `inlay` ships both a `Package.swift` and a podspec. See the [Navigation](docs/navigation.md) guide for details.
### 3. Share state
Define a store (Dart):
```dart
@InlayStore(key: 'sounds_notifications')
class SoundsNotificationsStore {
const SoundsNotificationsStore({
@InlayStoreKey() required this.contactId,
this.mute = false,
this.sound = 'Default',
});
final String contactId;
final bool mute;
final String sound;
}
```
Read and write from native - **Swift**:
```swift
let scope = KeyValueStorageImpl.shared.createScope()
let store = SoundsNotificationsStore(storage: scope, contactId: "abc-123")
store.mute = true
scope.startObserving { entries in
if store.containsChanges(in: entries) {
// reload from store typed properties
}
}
```
Read and write from native - **Kotlin**:
```kotlin
val scope = KeyValueStorageImpl.createScope()
val store = SoundsNotificationsStore(scope, contactId = "abc-123")
store.mute = true
scope.startObserving { entries ->
if (store.containsChanges(entries)) {
// reload from store typed properties
}
}
```
On the Flutter side, the generated store can be used directly or combined with the optional `InlayCubit` helper (see the [State Management](docs/state.md) guide).
## Documentation
- [Navigation](docs/navigation.md) - Route definitions, dialogs & bottom sheets, cross-boundary navigation, go_router & auto_route integration
- [State Management](docs/state.md) - Stores, native access, optional Cubit integration, cross-engine sync
- [Testing](docs/testing.md) - Widget-testing screens that navigate and use stores, via `package:inlay/testing.dart` fakes
Each package also has its own README with focused usage instructions, and the [example](example/) folder contains a complete Flutter module plus native iOS and Android host apps exercising every feature.
Using an AI coding agent? The [skills](skills/) folder ships [Agent Skills](https://agentskills.io/) that teach Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and other agents how to set up inlay, evolve route/store schemas, and test inlay screens - see [skills/README.md](skills/README.md) for installation.
---
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We are **top-tier experts** focused on Flutter Enterprise solutions.
### Why LeanCode?
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