Flutter has emerged as one of the most popular frameworks for building cross-platform mobile applications. If you’re eager to dive into the world of Flutter development, then having a proper setup is essential. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to get your Flutter development environment up and running smoothly on your computer.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, it’s essential to check the system requirements for Flutter. Make sure your machine meets the following criteria:

• Operating Systems:

  • Windows 10 (64-bit),
  • macOS (10.14 or later),
  • Linux (Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu)

• Disk Space:

  • At least 1.64 GB (not including disk space for IDE/tools)

• Tools:

  • Git for Windows (if on Windows)

Step 1: Install Flutter SDK

The first step is to download the Flutter SDK. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the Flutter official website.
2. Select your operating system (iOS, Android, Windows, or Linux).
3. Download the latest stable release of the Flutter SDK.

For example, if you're on Windows:

• Extract the downloaded zip file to an appropriate location on your disk (for example, C:\src\flutter).
• Do not install Flutter in a location that requires elevated privileges, such as C:\Program Files\.

Next, update your system's PATH variable:

• Right-click on 'This PC' and select 'Properties'.
• Click on 'Advanced system settings'.
• Click on 'Environment Variables'.
• Under 'System variables', find the Path variable and click 'Edit'.
• Add the full path to the flutter\bin directory (e.g., C:\src\flutter\bin).

Step 2: Install Android Studio (Optional, but Recommended)

Android Studio provides a powerful IDE for Android development and gives you access to the Android SDK, which you will need for Flutter mobile development.

1. Download Android Studio from the official site.
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts.
3. After installation, start Android Studio and go to 'Configure' > 'SDK Manager'.
4. In the SDK Platforms tab, make sure you have the latest Android SDK installed.
5. In the SDK Tools tab, check the box for Android SDK Build-Tools, Android Emulator, and Android SDK Platform-Tools.

Step 3: Set Up Your Editor

Flutter supports various editors. While you can use any text editor, it is recommended to use either Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, or Visual Studio Code for better capabilities. Here's how to set up VS Code:

1. Download and install Visual Studio Code.
2. Open Visual Studio Code and go to Extensions (you can find it by clicking on the square icon on the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X).
3. Search for ‘Flutter’ and install the Flutter and Dart plugins.

Step 4: Verify Your Installation

To ensure everything is correctly installed, you will want to run the Flutter Doctor command:

1. Open a terminal (Command Prompt, PowerShell, or your chosen terminal in Linux or macOS).

2. Type:

   flutter doctor

   The flutter doctor command checks your environment and shows a report of the status of your Flutter installation. Look over the output carefully; Flutter will inform you if there are any issues to resolve.

Example: Creating a Simple "Hello World" App

Once you've set everything up, it's time to create your first Flutter application. Here’s an example to get you started:

1. Open your terminal and create a new Flutter project:

   flutter create hello_world 

2. Change into the project directory:

   cd hello_world

3. Open the project in your preferred editor. If you used Visual Studio Code, you can type:

   code .

4. In the lib/main.dart file, you’ll find the following default code. Replace it with:

   import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
   
   void main() {
     runApp(MyApp());
   }
   
   class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
     @override
     Widget build(BuildContext context) {
       return MaterialApp(
         title: 'Hello World App',
         home: Scaffold(
           appBar: AppBar(
             title: Text('Hello World'),
           ),
           body: Center(
             child: Text('Hello, World!'),
           ),
         ),
       );
     }
   }

5. Finally, run your app:

   flutter run

If everything was set up correctly, you should see a screen displaying "Hello, World!" in the center.

This process walks you through setting up a Flutter development environment, from downloading the SDK to creating your first application. Enjoy developing with Flutter, and welcome to the exciting world of mobile app creation!