diff --git a/dev/automated_tests/test_smoke_test/crash1_test.dart b/dev/automated_tests/test_smoke_test/crash1_test.dart
index d403913f48..58cfe2040d 100644
--- a/dev/automated_tests/test_smoke_test/crash1_test.dart
+++ b/dev/automated_tests/test_smoke_test/crash1_test.dart
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 void main() {
   test('test smoke test -- this test should fail', () async {
-    system.Process.killPid(system.pid, system.ProcessSignal.SIGSEGV);
+    if (system.Process.killPid(system.pid, system.ProcessSignal.SIGSEGV)) {
+      print('system.Process.killPid returned before the process ended!');
+      print('Sleeping for a few seconds just in case signal delivery is delayed or our signal handler is being slow...');
+      system.sleep(const Duration(seconds: 10)); // don't sleep too much, we must not time out
+    } else {
+      print('system.Process.killPid reports that the SIGSEGV signal was not delivered!');
+    }
+    print('crash1_test.dart will now probably not crash, which will ruin the test.');
   });
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/examples/layers/services/lifecycle.dart b/examples/layers/services/lifecycle.dart
index 5196c83a88..ff2befe49d 100644
--- a/examples/layers/services/lifecycle.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/services/lifecycle.dart
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
 
 class LifecycleWatcher extends StatefulWidget {
+  const LifecycleWatcher({ Key key }) : super(key: key);
+
   @override
   _LifecycleWatcherState createState() => new _LifecycleWatcherState();
 }
@@ -42,7 +44,12 @@ class _LifecycleWatcherState extends State<LifecycleWatcher>
 
 
 void main() {
-  runApp(new Center(
-    child: new LifecycleWatcher()
-  ));
+  runApp(
+    const Directionality(
+      textDirection: TextDirection.ltr,
+      child: const Center(
+        child: const LifecycleWatcher(),
+      ),
+    ),
+  );
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/lib/main_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/lib/main_test.dart
index b51650666f..738676ab3c 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/lib/main_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/lib/main_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../lib/main.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for lib/main.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for lib/main.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/custom_coordinate_systems_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/custom_coordinate_systems_test.dart
index c6bcf0ad89..332d2a1519 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/custom_coordinate_systems_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/custom_coordinate_systems_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../rendering/custom_coordinate_systems.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for rendering/custom_coordinate_systems.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/flex_layout_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/flex_layout_test.dart
index 1d1f6fe2b4..cac9a58c84 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/flex_layout_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/flex_layout_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../rendering/flex_layout.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for rendering/flex_layout.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/hello_world_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/hello_world_test.dart
index df8932bcd4..ca3bcabf9e 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/hello_world_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/hello_world_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../rendering/hello_world.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for rendering/hello_world.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/spinning_square_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/spinning_square_test.dart
index 78ceb99934..ab0621c887 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/spinning_square_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/spinning_square_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../rendering/spinning_square.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for rendering/spinning_square.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/touch_input_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/touch_input_test.dart
index dae629f5d9..0ffd5eda58 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/touch_input_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/rendering/touch_input_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../rendering/touch_input.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for rendering/touch_input.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/isolate_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/isolate_test.dart
index ed5efc1d80..27b98a8e97 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/isolate_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/isolate_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../services/isolate.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for services/isolate.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for services/isolate.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/lifecycle_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/lifecycle_test.dart
index fa6f4ce067..c8290b09e5 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/lifecycle_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/services/lifecycle_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../services/lifecycle.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for services/lifecycle.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for services/lifecycle.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/custom_render_box_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/custom_render_box_test.dart
index 2744ebbd64..0e724372ae 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/custom_render_box_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/custom_render_box_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/custom_render_box.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/custom_render_box.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/custom_render_box.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/gestures_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/gestures_test.dart
index 44f842273d..ed6dc33371 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/gestures_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/gestures_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/gestures.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/gestures.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/gestures.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/hello_world_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/hello_world_test.dart
index 0d6cb4e441..031c01dcba 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/hello_world_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/hello_world_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/hello_world.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/hello_world.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/hello_world.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/media_query_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/media_query_test.dart
index f7540f8aaa..fa70edfcb0 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/media_query_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/media_query_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/media_query.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/media_query.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/media_query.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/sectors_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/sectors_test.dart
index 4171497984..a5f596a84a 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/sectors_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/sectors_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/sectors.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/sectors.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/sectors.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_mixed_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_mixed_test.dart
index 6cb3bd54de..090a19ecf7 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_mixed_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_mixed_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/spinning_mixed.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
   test('layers smoketest for widgets/spinning_mixed.dart', () {
+    FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { throw details.exception; };
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_square_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_square_test.dart
index e24858d12f..01588efdd1 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_square_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/spinning_square_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/spinning_square.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/spinning_square.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/spinning_square.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/styled_text_test.dart b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/styled_text_test.dart
index 3fc1a05a31..ed29943553 100644
--- a/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/styled_text_test.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/test/smoketests/widgets/styled_text_test.dart
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 import '../../../widgets/styled_text.dart' as demo;
 
 void main() {
-  test('layers smoketest for widgets/styled_text.dart', () {
+  testWidgets('layers smoketest for widgets/styled_text.dart', (WidgetTester tester) {
     demo.main();
   });
 }
diff --git a/examples/layers/widgets/custom_render_box.dart b/examples/layers/widgets/custom_render_box.dart
index 6a2b5b4b25..ded29a732a 100644
--- a/examples/layers/widgets/custom_render_box.dart
+++ b/examples/layers/widgets/custom_render_box.dart
@@ -46,5 +46,14 @@ class Dots extends SingleChildRenderObjectWidget {
 }
 
 void main() {
-  runApp(const Dots(child: const Center(child: const Text('Touch me!'))));
+  runApp(
+    const Directionality(
+      textDirection: TextDirection.ltr,
+      child: const Dots(
+        child: const Center(
+          child: const Text('Touch me!'),
+        ),
+      ),
+    ),
+  );
 }