Flutter Android: compileSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion

When building Android apps with Flutter, managing the Android SDK versions in your project is essential for compatibility and performance. The SDK versions are defined in the android/app/build.gradle file under the android block. In this documentation, we will cover the three key parameters: compileSdkVersion, targetSdkVersion, and minSdkVersion.

1. compileSdkVersion

Definition: The compileSdkVersion is the version of the Android SDK that is used to compile the app.

Usage: This does not affect the behavior of your app directly but ensures that you can use the latest Android API features while compiling.

Recommended Setting: Always use the latest stable version of the SDK. For instance, at the time of writing, it could be 35 for Android 15.

android {
 compileSdkVersion 35
 }

2. targetSdkVersion

Definition: The targetSdkVersion specifies the Android version for which your app is designed and tested.

Usage: This version affects how the system treats your app. Android uses this to enable or disable specific platform behaviors and compatibility changes.

Impact: If you set the targetSdkVersion to a higher version, your app will behave as if it was running on that version, including any restrictions or features introduced by that version.

Recommended Setting: Always set this to the highest version that your app is compatible with. Google Play typically requires you to target the most recent Android version within a specific timeframe.

minSdkVersion

Although not asked, it’s important to also be aware of minSdkVersion, which defines the minimum Android version that your app supports.

android { 
minSdkVersion 21 // Example, supports Android 5.0 and above
 }

Example: build.gradle block

android {
    compileSdkVersion 35
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.example.myapp"
        minSdkVersion 21
        targetSdkVersion 35
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
    }
}

Key differences

Here are the key differences between compileSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion:

compileSdkVersion determines the maximum Android API level available during compilation.

targetSdkVersion determines the highest Android API level that your app is designed to work with.