Create Project

After completing the environment setup, we can start creating our hotkey application project. This chapter will guide you through the project creation and basic configuration.

Create Flutter Project

1. Open terminal, navigate to your desired project directory, and execute the following commands:

   flutter create hotkey_app
   cd hotkey_app

2. Enable macOS support:

   flutter create . --platforms=macos

Configure Project

1. Open pubspec.yaml file and add necessary dependencies:

   dependencies:
     flutter:
       sdk: flutter
     window_manager: ^0.3.7
     hotkey_manager: ^0.1.8
     shared_preferences: ^2.2.2

2. Install dependencies:

   flutter pub get

Configure macOS Permissions

1. Open macos/Runner/DebugProfile.entitlements file and add the following permissions:

   <dict>
     <!-- Other existing configurations -->
     <key>com.apple.security.temporary-exception.apple-events</key>
     <string>com.apple.systemevents</string>
   </dict>

2. Add the same configuration to macos/Runner/Release.entitlements.

Clean Default Code

1. Open lib/main.dart and remove the default counter example code.

2. Create the basic application structure:

   import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
   import 'package:window_manager/window_manager.dart';
   import 'package:hotkey_manager/hotkey_manager.dart';
   
   void main() async {
     WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
   
     // Initialize window manager
     await windowManager.ensureInitialized();
   
     // Initialize hotkey manager
     await hotKeyManager.unregisterAll();
   
     runApp(const MyApp());
   }
   
   class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
     const MyApp({super.key});
   
     @override
     Widget build(BuildContext context) {
       return MaterialApp(
         title: 'Hotkey App',
         theme: ThemeData(
           primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
           useMaterial3: true,
         ),
         home: const MyHomePage(),
       );
     }
   }
   
   class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
     const MyHomePage({super.key});
   
     @override
     State<MyHomePage> createState() => _MyHomePageState();
   }
   
   class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
     @override
     Widget build(BuildContext context) {
       return Scaffold(
         appBar: AppBar(
           title: const Text('Hotkey App'),
         ),
         body: const Center(
           child: Text('Welcome to Hotkey App!'),
         ),
       );
     }
   }

Run Project

1. Ensure macOS platform is enabled:

   flutter devices

2. Run the project:

   flutter run -d macos

Common Issues

1. Dependency Installation Failure

   • Check network connection
   • Ensure Flutter SDK version compatibility
   • Try using mirror sources

2. macOS Permission Issues

   • Ensure entitlements files are correctly configured
   • Check Xcode project settings

3. Runtime Errors

   • Check Flutter and Dart SDK versions
   • Ensure all dependencies are properly installed
   • Review console error messages

Next Step

Now that we have created the basic project structure, we will learn how to control the application window behavior in the Window Management chapter.