Environment Setup

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

Visit the Flutter official website to download the latest SDK: https://flutter.dev/docs/get-started/install/macos
Extract the downloaded file to your preferred location, for example:
Terminal window
```
cd ~/development
unzip ~/Downloads/flutter_macos_arm64_3.x.x-stable.zip
```
Add Flutter to your environment variables by editing ~/.zshrc or ~/.bash_profile:
Terminal window
```
export PATH="$PATH:~/development/flutter/bin"
```
Run the following command to verify the installation:
Terminal window
```
flutter doctor
```

Install Xcode

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

Install Xcode from the Mac App Store
After installation, run the following command to accept the license agreement:
Terminal window
```
sudo xcodebuild -license accept
```
Install Xcode command-line tools:
Terminal window
```
sudo xcode-select --install
```

Configure VS Code

Install VS Code: https://code.visualstudio.com/
Install necessary extensions:
- Flutter
- Dart

Enable macOS Desktop Support

Enable macOS desktop support:
Terminal window
```
flutter config --enable-macos-desktop
```
Verify that macOS is in the list of supported platforms:
Terminal window
```
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

Slow Flutter SDK Download
- Use a mirror site
- Or use a proxy for downloading
Xcode Installation Failure
- Ensure Mac App Store login is working
- Check network connection
- Ensure sufficient disk space
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.