3. Setting Up the Development Environment

Now that you know the prerequisites, follow these steps to set up your development environment:

3.1 Installing Flutter

1. Download Flutter SDK
   • Download Flutter 3.27.3 from the official Flutter SDK Archive: Flutter SDK Archive.
2. Extract the Flutter SDK
   • Extract the downloaded file to your desired installation directory (e.g., C:\flutter or ~/flutter).
   • Avoid locations like C:\Program Files to prevent permission issues.
3. Add Flutter to Your PATH
   • Add the Flutter bin directory to your system's PATH variable:
     • Windows:
       • Open Environment Variables and add the path to flutter\bin.
     • macOS/Linux:
       • Add the following line to your shell configuration file (e.g., .bashrc, .zshrc):

         export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/flutter/bin"

4. Verify Installation
   • Run the following command in your terminal:

     flutter doctor

   • Address any issues reported by the tool (e.g., missing dependencies, unconfigured Android SDK).

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3.2 Configuring Android Studio

1. Install Android Studio
   • Download and install Android Studio from the official website: Android Studio.
2. Install Flutter and Dart Plugins
   • Open Android Studio and go to File > Settings > Plugins.
   • Search for "Flutter" and install it. The Dart plugin will be installed automatically.
3. Configure Flutter and Dart SDK Paths
   • Go to File > Settings > Languages & Frameworks > Flutter.
   • Set the path to your Flutter SDK (e.g., C:\flutter or ~/flutter).
   • The Dart SDK path should be automatically detected as flutter/bin/cache/dart-sdk.
4. Install Android SDK Tools
   • Open SDK Manager in Android Studio (Tools > SDK Manager).
   • Install the latest Command Line Tools and Build Tools.
   • Uncheck Hide Obsolete Packages and install Android SDK Command Line Tool (Latest).

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3.3 Verifying Setup

After completing the above steps, verify that everything is configured correctly:

1. Run the following command in your terminal:

   flutter doctor

2. Ensure there are no critical errors. Common warnings include:
   • Missing licenses for Android SDK (run flutter doctor --android-licenses to accept them).
   • Missing emulator/device (set up an emulator or connect a physical device).