diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/application_package.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/application_package.dart
index ff4b3c30e1f..6f85e894a0b 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/application_package.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/application_package.dart
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ class ApplicationPackageFactory {
       case TargetPlatform.tester:
         return FlutterTesterApp.fromCurrentDirectory();
       case TargetPlatform.darwin_x64:
-        return applicationBinary != null
-          ? MacOSApp.fromPrebuiltApp(applicationBinary)
-          : null;
+        return applicationBinary == null
+          ? MacOSApp.fromMacOSProject((await FlutterProject.current()).macos)
+          : MacOSApp.fromPrebuiltApp(applicationBinary);
       case TargetPlatform.web:
         return WebApplicationPackage(await FlutterProject.current());
       case TargetPlatform.linux_x64:
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_macos.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_macos.dart
index 46b58d8ddff..3eeb3cb59ee 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_macos.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_macos.dart
@@ -5,13 +5,10 @@
 import 'dart:async';
 
 import '../base/common.dart';
-import '../base/io.dart';
 import '../base/platform.dart';
-import '../base/process_manager.dart';
 import '../build_info.dart';
 import '../cache.dart';
-import '../convert.dart';
-import '../globals.dart';
+import '../macos/build_macos.dart';
 import '../project.dart';
 import '../runner/flutter_command.dart' show FlutterCommandResult;
 import 'build.dart';
@@ -62,23 +59,7 @@ class BuildMacosCommand extends BuildSubCommand {
     if (!flutterProject.macos.existsSync()) {
       throwToolExit('No macOS desktop project configured.');
     }
-    final Process process = await processManager.start(<String>[
-      flutterProject.macos.buildScript.path,
-      Cache.flutterRoot,
-      buildInfo.isDebug ? 'debug' : 'release',
-    ], runInShell: true);
-    process.stderr
-      .transform(utf8.decoder)
-      .transform(const LineSplitter())
-      .listen(printError);
-    process.stdout
-      .transform(utf8.decoder)
-      .transform(const LineSplitter())
-      .listen(printStatus);
-    final int result = await process.exitCode;
-    if (result != 0) {
-      throwToolExit('Build process failed');
-    }
+    await buildMacOS(flutterProject, buildInfo);
     return null;
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/desktop.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/desktop.dart
index e1af6698e73..791d33c83fd 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/desktop.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/desktop.dart
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import 'base/platform.dart';
 import 'version.dart';
 
 // Only launch or display desktop embedding devices if
-// `FLUTTER_DESKTOP_EMBEDDING` environment variable is set to true.
+// `ENABLE_FLUTTER_DESKTOP` environment variable is set to true.
 bool get flutterDesktopEnabled {
-  _flutterDesktopEnabled ??= platform.environment['FLUTTER_DESKTOP_EMBEDDING']?.toLowerCase() == 'true';
+  _flutterDesktopEnabled ??= platform.environment['ENABLE_FLUTTER_DESKTOP']?.toLowerCase() == 'true';
   return _flutterDesktopEnabled && !FlutterVersion.instance.isStable;
 }
 bool _flutterDesktopEnabled;
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/application_package.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/application_package.dart
index 28d8ade1716..90220a35473 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/application_package.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/application_package.dart
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@ import 'package:meta/meta.dart';
 
 import '../application_package.dart';
 import '../base/file_system.dart';
+import '../base/io.dart';
+import '../base/process_manager.dart';
+import '../build_info.dart';
 import '../globals.dart';
 import '../ios/plist_utils.dart' as plist;
+import '../project.dart';
 
 /// Tests whether a [FileSystemEntity] is an macOS bundle directory
 bool _isBundleDirectory(FileSystemEntity entity) =>
@@ -16,6 +20,11 @@ bool _isBundleDirectory(FileSystemEntity entity) =>
 abstract class MacOSApp extends ApplicationPackage {
   MacOSApp({@required String projectBundleId}) : super(id: projectBundleId);
 
+  /// Creates a new [MacOSApp] from a macOS project directory.
+  factory MacOSApp.fromMacOSProject(MacOSProject project) {
+    return BuildableMacOSApp(project);
+  }
+
   /// Creates a new [MacOSApp] from an existing app bundle.
   ///
   /// `applicationBinary` is the path to the framework directory created by an
@@ -24,21 +33,33 @@ abstract class MacOSApp extends ApplicationPackage {
   /// which is expected to start the application and send the observatory
   /// port over stdout.
   factory MacOSApp.fromPrebuiltApp(FileSystemEntity applicationBinary) {
-    final FileSystemEntityType entityType = fs.typeSync(applicationBinary.path);
+    final _ExecutableAndId executableAndId = _executableFromBundle(applicationBinary);
+    final Directory applicationBundle = fs.directory(applicationBinary);
+    return PrebuiltMacOSApp(
+      bundleDir: applicationBundle,
+      bundleName: applicationBundle.path,
+      projectBundleId: executableAndId.id,
+      executable: executableAndId.executable,
+    );
+  }
+
+  /// Look up the executable name for a macOS application bundle.
+  static _ExecutableAndId _executableFromBundle(Directory applicationBundle) {
+    final FileSystemEntityType entityType = fs.typeSync(applicationBundle.path);
     if (entityType == FileSystemEntityType.notFound) {
-      printError('File "${applicationBinary.path}" does not exist.');
+      printError('File "${applicationBundle.path}" does not exist.');
       return null;
     }
     Directory bundleDir;
     if (entityType == FileSystemEntityType.directory) {
-      final Directory directory = fs.directory(applicationBinary);
+      final Directory directory = fs.directory(applicationBundle);
       if (!_isBundleDirectory(directory)) {
-        printError('Folder "${applicationBinary.path}" is not an app bundle.');
+        printError('Folder "${applicationBundle.path}" is not an app bundle.');
         return null;
       }
-      bundleDir = fs.directory(applicationBinary);
+      bundleDir = fs.directory(applicationBundle);
     } else {
-      printError('Folder "${applicationBinary.path}" is not an app bundle.');
+      printError('Folder "${applicationBundle.path}" is not an app bundle.');
       return null;
     }
     final String plistPath = fs.path.join(bundleDir.path, 'Contents', 'Info.plist');
@@ -55,20 +76,16 @@ abstract class MacOSApp extends ApplicationPackage {
     final String executable = fs.path.join(bundleDir.path, 'Contents', 'MacOS', executableName);
     if (!fs.file(executable).existsSync()) {
       printError('Could not find macOS binary at $executable');
-      return null;
     }
-    return PrebuiltMacOSApp(
-      bundleDir: bundleDir,
-      bundleName: fs.path.basename(bundleDir.path),
-      projectBundleId: id,
-      executable: executable,
-    );
+    return _ExecutableAndId(executable, id);
   }
 
   @override
   String get displayName => id;
 
-  String get executable;
+  String applicationBundle(BuildMode buildMode);
+
+  String executable(BuildMode buildMode);
 }
 
 class PrebuiltMacOSApp extends MacOSApp {
@@ -76,16 +93,59 @@ class PrebuiltMacOSApp extends MacOSApp {
     @required this.bundleDir,
     @required this.bundleName,
     @required this.projectBundleId,
-    @required this.executable,
-  }) : super(projectBundleId: projectBundleId);
+    @required String executable,
+  }) : _executable = executable,
+       super(projectBundleId: projectBundleId);
 
   final Directory bundleDir;
   final String bundleName;
   final String projectBundleId;
 
-  @override
-  final String executable;
+  final String _executable;
 
   @override
   String get name => bundleName;
+
+  @override
+  String applicationBundle(BuildMode buildMode) => bundleDir.path;
+
+  @override
+  String executable(BuildMode buildMode) => _executable;
+}
+
+class BuildableMacOSApp extends MacOSApp {
+  BuildableMacOSApp(this.project);
+
+  final MacOSProject project;
+
+  @override
+  String get name => 'macOS';
+
+  @override
+  String applicationBundle(BuildMode buildMode) {
+    final ProcessResult result = processManager.runSync(<String>[
+      project.nameScript.path,
+      buildMode == BuildMode.debug ? 'debug' : 'release'
+    ], runInShell: true);
+    final String directory = result.stdout.toString().trim();
+    return directory;
+  }
+
+  @override
+  String executable(BuildMode buildMode) {
+    final ProcessResult result = processManager.runSync(<String>[
+      project.nameScript.path,
+      buildMode == BuildMode.debug ? 'debug' : 'release'
+    ], runInShell: true);
+    final String directory = result.stdout.toString().trim();
+    final _ExecutableAndId executableAndId = MacOSApp._executableFromBundle(fs.directory(directory));
+    return executableAndId.executable;
+  }
+}
+
+class _ExecutableAndId {
+  _ExecutableAndId(this.executable, this.id);
+
+  final String executable;
+  final String id;
 }
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/build_macos.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/build_macos.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8ec7a61d327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/build_macos.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// Copyright 2019 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+import '../base/common.dart';
+import '../base/io.dart';
+import '../base/logger.dart';
+import '../base/process_manager.dart';
+import '../build_info.dart';
+import '../cache.dart';
+import '../convert.dart';
+import '../globals.dart';
+import '../project.dart';
+
+/// Builds the macOS project through the project shell script.
+Future<void> buildMacOS(FlutterProject flutterProject, BuildInfo buildInfo) async {
+  final Process process = await processManager.start(<String>[
+    flutterProject.macos.buildScript.path,
+    Cache.flutterRoot,
+    buildInfo?.isDebug == true ? 'debug' : 'release',
+  ], runInShell: true);
+  final Status status = logger.startProgress(
+    'Building macOS application...',
+    timeout: null,
+  );
+  int result;
+  try {
+    process.stderr
+      .transform(utf8.decoder)
+      .transform(const LineSplitter())
+      .listen(printError);
+    process.stdout
+      .transform(utf8.decoder)
+      .transform(const LineSplitter())
+      .listen(printTrace);
+    result = await process.exitCode;
+  } finally {
+    status.cancel();
+  }
+  if (result != 0) {
+    throwToolExit('Build process failed');
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/macos_device.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/macos_device.dart
index 74c11f8fadb..ccfd40eec85 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/macos_device.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/macos/macos_device.dart
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@ import '../base/os.dart';
 import '../base/platform.dart';
 import '../base/process_manager.dart';
 import '../build_info.dart';
+import '../cache.dart';
 import '../convert.dart';
 import '../device.dart';
 import '../globals.dart';
 import '../macos/application_package.dart';
+import '../project.dart';
 import '../protocol_discovery.dart';
+import 'build_macos.dart';
 import 'macos_workflow.dart';
 
 /// A device that represents a desktop MacOS target.
@@ -66,16 +69,27 @@ class MacOSDevice extends Device {
     bool usesTerminalUi = true,
     bool ipv6 = false,
   }) async {
-    if (!prebuiltApplication) {
-      return LaunchResult.failed();
-    }
     // Stop any running applications with the same executable.
+    if (!prebuiltApplication) {
+      Cache.releaseLockEarly();
+      await buildMacOS(await FlutterProject.current(), debuggingOptions?.buildInfo);
+    }
+    // Make sure to call stop app after we've built.
     await stopApp(package);
-    final Process process = await processManager.start(<String>[package.executable]);
+    final Process process = await processManager.start(<String>[
+      package.executable(debuggingOptions?.buildInfo?.mode)
+    ]);
+    if (debuggingOptions?.buildInfo?.isRelease == true) {
+      return LaunchResult.succeeded();
+    }
     final MacOSLogReader logReader = MacOSLogReader(package, process);
     final ProtocolDiscovery observatoryDiscovery = ProtocolDiscovery.observatory(logReader);
     try {
       final Uri observatoryUri = await observatoryDiscovery.uri;
+      // Bring app to foreground.
+      await processManager.run(<String>[
+        'open', package.applicationBundle(debuggingOptions?.buildInfo?.mode),
+      ]);
       return LaunchResult.succeeded(observatoryUri: observatoryUri);
     } catch (error) {
       printError('Error waiting for a debug connection: $error');
@@ -91,6 +105,8 @@ class MacOSDevice extends Device {
   Future<bool> stopApp(covariant MacOSApp app) async {
     final RegExp whitespace = RegExp(r'\s+');
     bool succeeded = true;
+    // assume debug for now.
+    final String executable = app.executable(BuildMode.debug);
     try {
       final ProcessResult result = await processManager.run(<String>[
         'ps', 'aux',
@@ -100,7 +116,7 @@ class MacOSDevice extends Device {
       }
       final List<String> lines = result.stdout.split('\n');
       for (String line in lines) {
-        if (!line.contains(app.executable)) {
+        if (!line.contains(executable)) {
           continue;
         }
         final List<String> values = line.split(whitespace);
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/project.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/project.dart
index 56e16599ee3..ae80a3d00b8 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/project.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/project.dart
@@ -538,6 +538,9 @@ class MacOSProject {
 
   // Note: The build script file exists as a temporary shim.
   File get buildScript => project.directory.childDirectory('macos').childFile('build.sh');
+
+  // Note: The name script file exists as a temporary shim.
+  File get nameScript => project.directory.childDirectory('macos').childFile('name_output.sh');
 }
 
 /// The Windows sub project
@@ -550,6 +553,9 @@ class WindowsProject {
 
   // Note: The build script file exists as a temporary shim.
   File get buildScript => project.directory.childDirectory('windows').childFile('build.bat');
+
+  // Note: The name script file exists as a temporary shim.
+  File get nameScript => project.directory.childDirectory('windows').childFile('name_output.sh');
 }
 
 /// The Linux sub project.
@@ -562,4 +568,7 @@ class LinuxProject {
 
   // Note: The build script file exists as a temporary shim.
   File get buildScript => project.directory.childDirectory('linux').childFile('build.sh');
+
+  // Note: The name script file exists as a temporary shim.
+  File get nameScript => project.directory.childDirectory('linux').childFile('name_output.sh');
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands/build_linux_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands/build_linux_test.dart
index b9397ce1edc..c8131a9414f 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands/build_linux_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/commands/build_linux_test.dart
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ void main() {
     ), throwsA(isInstanceOf<ToolExit>()));
   }, overrides: <Type, Generator>{
     Platform: () => linuxPlatform,
+    FileSystem: () => memoryFilesystem,
   });
 
   testUsingContext('Linux build fails on non-linux platform', () async {
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/linux/linux_workflow_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/linux/linux_workflow_test.dart
index 2cd86f16d41..d111ffced83 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/linux/linux_workflow_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/linux/linux_workflow_test.dart
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ void main() {
   group(LinuxWorkflow, () {
     final MockPlatform linux = MockPlatform();
     final MockPlatform linuxWithFde = MockPlatform()
-      ..environment['FLUTTER_DESKTOP_EMBEDDING'] = 'true';
+      ..environment['ENABLE_FLUTTER_DESKTOP'] = 'true';
     final MockPlatform notLinux = MockPlatform();
     when(linux.isLinux).thenReturn(true);
     when(linuxWithFde.isLinux).thenReturn(true);
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_device_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_device_test.dart
index e379eddfdb9..715350b8cf6 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_device_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_device_test.dart
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ void main() {
 
     testUsingContext('defaults', () async {
       final MockMacOSApp mockMacOSApp = MockMacOSApp();
-      when(mockMacOSApp.executable).thenReturn('foo');
+      when(mockMacOSApp.executable(any)).thenReturn('foo');
       expect(await device.targetPlatform, TargetPlatform.darwin_x64);
       expect(device.name, 'macOS');
       expect(await device.installApp(mockMacOSApp), true);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void main() {
 tester    17193   0.0  0.2  4791128  37820   ??  S     2:27PM   0:00.09 /Applications/foo
 ''';
       final MockMacOSApp mockMacOSApp = MockMacOSApp();
-      when(mockMacOSApp.executable).thenReturn('/Applications/foo');
+      when(mockMacOSApp.executable(any)).thenReturn('/Applications/foo');
       when(mockProcessManager.run(<String>['ps', 'aux'])).thenAnswer((Invocation invocation) async {
         return ProcessResult(1, 0, psOut, '');
       });
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ tester    17193   0.0  0.2  4791128  37820   ??  S     2:27PM   0:00.09 /Applica
       final MockProcessManager mockProcessManager = MockProcessManager();
       final MockFile mockFile = MockFile();
       final MockProcess mockProcess = MockProcess();
-      when(macOSApp.executable).thenReturn('test');
+      when(macOSApp.executable(any)).thenReturn('test');
       when(mockFileSystem.file('test')).thenReturn(mockFile);
       when(mockFile.existsSync()).thenReturn(true);
       when(mockProcessManager.start(<String>['test'])).thenAnswer((Invocation invocation) async {
@@ -83,11 +83,6 @@ tester    17193   0.0  0.2  4791128  37820   ??  S     2:27PM   0:00.09 /Applica
         ]);
       });
 
-      test('fails without a prebuilt application', () async {
-        final LaunchResult result = await device.startApp(macOSApp, prebuiltApplication: false);
-        expect(result.started, false);
-      });
-
       testUsingContext('Can run from prebuilt application', () async {
         final LaunchResult result = await device.startApp(macOSApp, prebuiltApplication: true);
         expect(result.started, true);
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_workflow_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_workflow_test.dart
index 0cc0ba37452..532ed724db4 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_workflow_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/macos/macos_workflow_test.dart
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ void main() {
   group(MacOSWorkflow, () {
     final MockPlatform mac = MockPlatform();
     final MockPlatform macWithFde = MockPlatform()
-      ..environment['FLUTTER_DESKTOP_EMBEDDING'] = 'true';
+      ..environment['ENABLE_FLUTTER_DESKTOP'] = 'true';
     final MockPlatform notMac = MockPlatform();
     when(mac.isMacOS).thenReturn(true);
     when(macWithFde.isMacOS).thenReturn(true);
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/windows/windows_workflow_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/windows/windows_workflow_test.dart
index c8e31e2175d..5530a5c5ccb 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/windows/windows_workflow_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/windows/windows_workflow_test.dart
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ void main() {
   group(WindowsWorkflow, () {
     final MockPlatform windows = MockPlatform();
     final MockPlatform windowsWithFde = MockPlatform()
-      ..environment['FLUTTER_DESKTOP_EMBEDDING'] = 'true';
+      ..environment['ENABLE_FLUTTER_DESKTOP'] = 'true';
     final MockPlatform notWindows = MockPlatform();
     when(windows.isWindows).thenReturn(true);
     when(windowsWithFde.isWindows).thenReturn(true);