Before we start developing our hotkey application, we need to set up the development environment. This chapter will guide you through all the necessary configurations.

Install Flutter SDK

1. Visit the Flutter official website to download the latest SDK: https://flutter.dev/docs/get-started/install/macos

2. Extract the downloaded file to your preferred location, for example:

   cd ~/development
   unzip ~/Downloads/flutter_macos_arm64_3.x.x-stable.zip

3. Add Flutter to your environment variables by editing ~/.zshrc or ~/.bash_profile:

   export PATH="$PATH:~/development/flutter/bin"

4. Run the following command to verify the installation:

   flutter doctor

Install Xcode

Since we’re developing a macOS application, we need to install Xcode:

1. Install Xcode from the Mac App Store

2. After installation, run the following command to accept the license agreement:

   sudo xcodebuild -license accept

3. Install Xcode command-line tools:

   sudo xcode-select --install

Configure VS Code

1. Install VS Code: https://code.visualstudio.com/

2. Install necessary extensions:

   • Flutter
   • Dart

Enable macOS Desktop Support

1. Enable macOS desktop support:

   flutter config --enable-macos-desktop

2. Verify that macOS is in the list of supported platforms:

   flutter devices

Verify Environment

Run the following command to check if the environment is configured correctly:

flutter doctor

Ensure all check items show ✓. If there are any issues, follow the prompts to resolve them.

Common Issues

1. Slow Flutter SDK Download

   • Use a mirror site
   • Or use a proxy for downloading

2. Xcode Installation Failure

   • Ensure Mac App Store login is working
   • Check network connection
   • Ensure sufficient disk space

3. VS Code Plugin Installation Failure

   • Check network connection
   • Try using a proxy

Next Step

Once the environment setup is complete, we can proceed to Create Project.