Smart Pub Manager

Intelligent Flutter dependency management for VS Code

Transform your Flutter development workflow with Smart Pub Manager - the most comprehensive dependency management extension for VS Code. Featuring visual search, intelligent categorization, health monitoring, and automated conflict resolution.

Key Features

Visual Package Search

Advanced search interface with rich package information, popularity metrics, and one-click installation.

Dependency Health Monitoring

Real-time health scores, outdated package detection, and visual status indicators.

Smart Categorization

Automatic package categorization with visual icons for UI, State Management, Networking, and more.

Intelligent Filtering

Powerful filtering system with search, category filters, and sorting options.

Conflict Resolution

Automatic detection and resolution of dependency version conflicts.

Screenshots & Features Gallery

Visual Package Browser

Modern search interface with rich package information

---

Smart Dependency Tree

Intelligent sidebar with categorization and health monitoring

---

Rich Package Information

Detailed tooltips with version info, categories, and quick actions

---

One-Click Package Addition

Streamlined workflow for adding dependencies to your project

Getting Started

Installation

1. From VS Code Marketplace:

   • Open VS Code
   • Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
   • Search for "Smart Pub Manager"
   • Click Install

2. From Command Line:

   code --install-extension DavidVillegas.smart-pub-manager
   

Quick Start

1. Open a Flutter project with a pubspec.yaml file
2. Access the Smart Pub panel in the sidebar (package icon)
3. Start searching with the visual search interface
4. Manage dependencies with intelligent filters and sorting

Comprehensive Usage Guide

Visual Package Search

Access the modern search interface in multiple ways:

• Ctrl+Shift+P → "Smart Pub: Search Flutter Packages (Visual)"
• Click the search icon in the Smart Pub sidebar
• Right-click in pubspec.yaml → "Add Dependency"

Features:

• Category Filtering: UI Components, State Management, Networking, etc.
• Visual Metrics: Popularity bars, likes, pub points, health scores
• Smart Tags: Flutter, Dart, category badges
• Live Sorting: By relevance, popularity, name, or pub points
• Quick Actions: Add to project, view on pub.dev

Dependency Management Sidebar

The Smart Pub sidebar provides comprehensive project overview:

Project Health Dashboard

• Health Score: Visual percentage of up-to-date dependencies
• Update Alerts: Clear indicators for outdated packages
• Statistics: Total packages, outdated count, dependency types

Advanced Filtering System

Search & Filters (expandable section)
├── Search Input - Filter by package name or description
├── All Dependencies - Show everything
├── Outdated - Show only packages needing updates
├── Production - Runtime dependencies only
├── Development - Dev dependencies only
├── UI Components - Flutter widgets and UI packages
├── State Management - Provider, Bloc, Riverpod, etc.
└── Networking - HTTP, API, and network packages

Smart Categorization

Every package is automatically categorized with appropriate icons:

• UI Components: Flutter widgets, animations, UI libraries
• State Management: Provider, Bloc, Riverpod, GetX
• Networking: HTTP, Dio, GraphQL, REST APIs
• Storage: SharedPreferences, SQLite, Hive, local storage
• Navigation: GoRouter, AutoRoute, routing solutions
• Firebase: Firebase services and integrations
• Media: Image/video handling, camera, permissions
• Utilities: Helper libraries, tools, utilities
• Testing: Testing frameworks and tools

Configuration Options

Customize Smart Pub Manager in VS Code settings:

{
  "smartPub.autoRunPubGet": true,
  "smartPub.enableCache": true,
  "smartPub.cacheExpiration": 3600,
  "smartPub.maxSearchResults": 20,
  "smartPub.defaultSearchMode": "visual"
}

Command Reference

Main Commands

Filter & Sort Commands

Utility Commands

Developer Guide

Architecture Overview

Smart Pub Manager is built with a modular architecture:

src/
├── services/
│   ├── visual-search-service.ts    # Modern webview search interface
│   ├── pub-api-service.ts          # pub.dev API integration
│   ├── workspace-service.ts        # Flutter project management
│   ├── cache-service.ts            # Performance caching layer
│   └── dependency-resolver.ts      # Conflict resolution engine
├── providers/
│   ├── dependency-tree-provider.ts # Sidebar tree view with filtering
│   ├── pubspec-analyzer.ts         # Real-time pubspec.yaml analysis
│   ├── pubspec-hover-provider.ts   # Rich hover information
│   └── pubspec-code-action-provider.ts # Quick fix suggestions
└── commands/
    └── search-packages-command.ts  # Legacy text-based search

Key Technologies

• TypeScript: Type-safe development
• VS Code Extension API: Native IDE integration
• Webview API: Modern search interface
• pub.dev REST API: Package information and search
• YAML Parser: pubspec.yaml manipulation
• Local Caching: Performance optimization

Extension Activation

The extension automatically activates when:

• A pubspec.yaml file is detected in the workspace
• Flutter project structure is identified
• User executes any Smart Pub command

Performance Features

• Smart Caching: API responses cached for 1 hour by default
• Lazy Loading: Components loaded on demand
• Efficient Filtering: Client-side filtering for instant results
• Optimized Queries: Minimal API calls with intelligent batching

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how to get started:

Development Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/dvillegastech/smart_pub.git
   cd smart_pub
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Build the extension:

   npm run compile
   

4. Test in VS Code:

   • Press F5 to open Extension Development Host
   • Test your changes in the new VS Code window

Project Structure

smart_pub/
├── src/                    # TypeScript source code
├── images/                 # Icons and visual assets
├── screenshots/            # Documentation screenshots
├── package.json            # Extension manifest
├── tsconfig.json          # TypeScript configuration
└── README.md              # This documentation

Contribution Guidelines

• Bug Reports: Use GitHub issues with detailed reproduction steps
• Feature Requests: Describe the use case and expected behavior
• Pull Requests: Include tests and update documentation
• Code Style: Follow existing TypeScript patterns and VS Code conventions

Roadmap

Upcoming Features

• Security Scanning: Automated vulnerability detection
• Flutter Version Compatibility: Version-specific package recommendations
• Custom Themes: Personalized UI themes for the search interface
• Analytics Dashboard: Dependency usage statistics and insights
• AI Recommendations: Smart package suggestions based on project type
• Dependency Migration: Automated migration between similar packages

Community Requests

Vote for features on our GitHub Discussions!

Support & Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Getting Help

• Documentation: Check this README for detailed instructions
• Bug Reports: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions
• Contact: dvillegastech@gmail.com

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Flutter Team: For the amazing framework
• pub.dev: For the comprehensive package registry
• VS Code Team: For the excellent extension API
• Community: For feature requests and feedback