App Lifecycle

FlutterProbe provides commands to manage the app’s lifecycle during tests. These run at the platform level (ADB or simctl), not through the Dart agent.

Restart the App

restart the app

This command:

1. Force-stops the app (am force-stop on Android, simctl terminate on iOS)
2. Relaunches the app
3. Reconnects the WebSocket connection automatically

App data is preserved — SharedPreferences, databases, and files remain intact.

Clear App Data

clear app data

This command:

1. Wipes all app data (SharedPreferences, databases, files)
   • Android: adb shell pm clear <package>
   • iOS: Deletes container subdirectories (Documents, Library, tmp)
2. Relaunches the app
3. Reconnects the WebSocket connection

This is a destructive operation and requires either:

• The -y CLI flag: probe test tests/ -y
• Interactive confirmation at runtime
• grant_permissions_on_clear: true in probe.yaml

When -y is used, all permissions are automatically re-granted after clearing to prevent permission dialogs from blocking tests.

Permission Management

OS-level permission dialogs (notifications, camera, location) are outside the Flutter widget tree, so the Dart agent cannot interact with them. FlutterProbe handles these at the platform level.

Granting permissions

allow permission "notifications"
allow permission "camera"
grant all permissions

Revoking permissions

deny permission "camera"
revoke all permissions

Available permissions

Permission	Android	iOS
notifications	POST_NOTIFICATIONS	notifications
camera	CAMERA	camera
location	ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION	location
microphone	RECORD_AUDIO	microphone
storage	READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE	photos
contacts	READ_CONTACTS	contacts
phone	CALL_PHONE	—
calendar	READ_CALENDAR	calendar
sms	READ_SMS	—
bluetooth	BLUETOOTH_CONNECT	—

Auto-grant on clear

When grant_permissions_on_clear: true is set in probe.yaml (or -y is used), all known permissions are automatically granted after clear app data. This prevents permission dialogs from appearing and blocking tests.

Configuration

probe.yaml

device:
  restart_delay: 500ms       # delay after force-stop before relaunch

agent:
  reconnect_delay: 2s        # delay before reconnecting WebSocket after restart

defaults:
  grant_permissions_on_clear: true

Typical Usage Pattern

test "fresh install experience"
  clear app data
  open the app
  see "Welcome"
  see "Create Account"

test "returning user"
  restart the app
  see "Welcome Back"
  see "Sign In"