flutter / flutter/flutter-intellij
MacOS symbolic link directories break point not working
- Dominant language
- Java
- Stars
- 2k
- Forks
- 356
- Avg merge
- 1d 11h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 27
Description
### Steps to reproduce
If you have a folder that is a symbolic link you can not set a breakpoint that stops when you run debug mode the red break point turns to a delete symbol.
Ask Claude "android studio debugging dart files in linked symbolic directories not working" and you get about 10 suggestions and none of them work.
Dows any one have a work around for this issues to debug dart code in symbolically linked folders?
### Expected results
Debugging stops at break point
### Actual results
Ignores the break point
### Code sample
Screen shots of break point being set and then being turned off when debug session started for file in symbolic link folder apps
### Screenshots or Video
_No response_
### Logs
### Flutter Doctor output
```console
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.6, on macOS 15.6 24G5065c darwin-arm64, locale en-PH) [560ms]
• Flutter version 3.32.6 on channel stable at /Users/alanc/development/flutter
• Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
• Framework revision 077b4a4ce1 (5 days ago), 2025-07-08 13:31:08 -0700
• Engine revision 72f2b18bb0
• Dart version 3.8.1
• DevTools version 2.45.1
[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 35.0.0) [1,965ms]
• Android SDK at /Users/alanc/Library/Android/sdk
• Platform android-35, build-tools 35.0.0
• Java binary at: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/openjdk/23.0.2/libexec/openjdk.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java
This JDK is specified in your Flutter configuration.
To change the current JDK, run: `flutter config --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment Homebrew (build 23.0.2)
• All Android licenses accepted.
[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 16.2) [1,205ms]
• Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
• Build 16C5032a
• CocoaPods version 1.16.2
[✓] Chrome - develop for the web [14ms]
• Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome
[✓] Android Studio (version 2024.3) [13ms]
• Android Studio at /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
• Flutter plugin can be installed from:
🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
• Dart plugin can be installed from:
🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.6+-13368085-b895.109)
[✓] Android Studio (version 2024.3) [11ms]
• Android Studio at /Volumes/MacOS26/Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
• Flutter plugin can be installed from:
🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
• Dart plugin can be installed from:
🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.6+-13368085-b895.109)
[✓] VS Code (version 1.100.3) [11ms]
• VS Code at /Volumes/MacOS26/Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents
• Flutter extension version 3.112.0
[✓] Connected device (6 available) [10.1s]
• SM A146P (mobile) • R9WW40G79FH • android-arm64 • Android 14 (API 34)
• sdk gphone64 arm64 (mobile) • emulator-5554 • android-arm64 • Android 14 (API 34) (emulator)
• CodeFab HDC iPad (wireless) (mobile) • 00008103-000A09A826BB001E • ios • iOS 26.0 23A5287g
• CodeFab HDC (wireless) (mobile) • 00008101-000649820199001E • ios • iOS 18.5 22F76
• CodeFab AJC (wireless) (mobile) • 00008120-000805860A50C01E • ios • iOS 26.0 23A5287g
• Chrome (web) • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 138.0.7204.101
! Error: Browsing on the local area network for Alan’s Apple Watch. Ensure the device is unlocked and discoverable via Bluetooth. (code -27)
[✓] Network resources [374ms]
• All expected network resources are available.
• No issues found!
```
Contributor guide
Research direction
No source file or test is named in the issue. Start by reproducing the breakpoint failure in Android Studio on macOS with Dart files inside a symbolic-link directory, then compare it with the same files at a direct path. Done means a breakpoint remains enabled and stops execution during a debug session.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- dart, java, macos
- Domain
- developer-experience, tooling
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100