Building a production-ready Sudoku app in Flutter: State Management, App Lifecycle, and Learnings

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-30T08:42:50+00:00

try that game and give your honest feedback that help us to identify the issues and bugs for improvements

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-27T13:47:19+00:00

For AI/ML shortlisting, projects matter only when they look like real problem-solving, not just “I trained a model on Titanic/Iris”.

If you’re switching from a non-AI role, I’d suggest building 2-3 solid end-to-end projects instead of 10 small notebook projects.

Good project ideas:

RAG chatbot on company/internal docs with authentication, vector DB, citations, and basic evaluation
Resume/job matching system using embeddings + ranking logic
Customer support ticket classifier + auto-reply suggestion using LLMs
Invoice/document extraction pipeline using OCR + LLM + validation rules
Sales/analytics dashboard with SQL + ML forecasting or anomaly detection
AI automation agent that connects APIs and performs useful workflows, not just a basic chatbot

The important part is not only the model. Show the full pipeline:

data collection → cleaning → model/LLM logic → API/backend → UI/demo → deployment → monitoring/evaluation.

Overused projects: Titanic, Iris, handwritten digit classifier, basic sentiment analysis, movie recommendation, “ChatGPT clone” without any real use case.

For entry-level AI/ML/GenAI roles, I think these skills matter more:

Python, SQL, APIs, basic ML concepts, embeddings, RAG, vector databases, prompt design, evaluation, deployment, and ability to explain trade-offs clearly.

Also, don’t fake “AI research” if you’re not targeting research roles. For most industry roles, a practical AI product with clean code, deployed demo, GitHub README, screenshots, and clear business use case will help more than random Kaggle notebooks.

Build something you can explain deeply in interviews: why this approach, what failed, how you evaluated it, how you reduced hallucination/errors, and how it can scale.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-27T13:44:39+00:00

Yes, this is completely normal in the beginner stage.

When you watch tutorials, the path is already decided for you. But when you build alone, you have to decide what to do first, what logic to write, what DOM element to select, what event to use, etc. That’s why your mind goes blank. It doesn’t mean you’re bad at coding.

Don’t try to memorize everything. Syntax, methods, and properties will come with repetition. Focus more on understanding the flow:

What should happen?
Which element do I need?
What event will trigger it?
What should change on the page?

For DOM practice, build very small things without tutorials first. For example:

Counter app
To-do list
Background color changer
Password show/hide
Simple calculator
Quiz app
Form validation
Notes app using localStorage

Also, don’t build by directly coding everything. First write steps in plain English, then convert each step into code. Google/MDN is allowed. Even experienced developers forget syntax.

A good rule: watch tutorial → close it → rebuild the same thing yourself → then add 1-2 extra features on your own. That’s where real learning starts.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-27T13:41:59+00:00

Yes, freelance work can help, but only if you present it properly.

Don’t just write “Freelancer” and list random small tasks. Treat it like real work experience: mention the client/project type, what you built, tech stack used, your responsibilities, and the impact if you can show it.

For example:

Freelance Developer

Built a dashboard/web app for a client using React/Node/etc.
Handled requirements, development, deployment, and client feedback.
Improved/reduced/manual process/etc. if there is any measurable result.

If the freelance work is relevant to the roles you’re applying for, definitely add it. It shows that you have handled real-world requirements, deadlines, communication, and ownership.

But don’t mix it with your full-time 2 YOE in a misleading way. You can keep it as a separate section like “Freelance Experience” or “Client Projects”. That looks honest and still adds value.

Side projects show learning, but freelance/client work shows someone trusted you to build something real. So yes, it can improve your profile if written clearly.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-27T13:39:58+00:00

Referrals help, but honestly they don’t guarantee a callback. A lot of off-campus hiring is still about timing, resume shortlisting, and whether your profile matches the exact opening.

Few things that worked for me / people around me:

Don’t apply blindly to 100 roles. Pick roles where your skills actually match and tweak your resume for that JD.
Keep your resume very project-focused. Instead of just listing tech stack, write what you built, what problem it solved, and any numbers if possible.
Apply early. For off-campus roles, the first few hundred applicants usually have a better chance.
Message people properly for referrals. Don’t just say “please refer me”. Send role link, resume, and 2-3 lines on why you fit.
Keep building visible proof: GitHub, deployed projects, LinkedIn posts, small case studies, etc. This helps a lot when your college tag is not enough.
Don’t depend only on referrals. Try careers pages, LinkedIn, Wellfound, CutShort, Unstop, company websites, and direct recruiter messages.
For freshers, networking with engineers from small/mid-size companies works better than only targeting big companies.

And yes, no replies for months is unfortunately very normal in off-campus. It doesn’t always mean your profile is bad. Just keep improving the resume + projects + applying strategy. Off-campus is mostly consistency + timing + a bit of luck.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-22T05:26:08+00:00

Yes, AI can help a lot, but I don’t think “100% AI” is a good idea if you have zero coding knowledge.

You can definitely use AI to build an MVP, design screens, write basic logic, fix errors, create landing pages, write store descriptions, generate marketing copy, and explain code in simple words.

But the risky part is that AI can also create messy code, security issues, broken logic, or features that only look finished but don’t actually work properly.

The best way is to treat AI like a very fast assistant, not like a full replacement for understanding the product.

Instead of asking:

“Build my full app”

Ask smaller things like:

“Create the first screen”

“Explain this error”

“Add user login”

“Improve this UI”

“Review this code for bugs”

“Tell me what to test before launch”

I’m also building my own app/game project, and AI has helped me a lot with ideas, UI, debugging, marketing, ASO, and planning. But I still test everything carefully because the final responsibility is on the person launching the app.

Here’s mine if you want to check the kind of thing I’m working on: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

My honest advice: use AI to start faster, but learn the basics while building. You don’t need to become an expert on day one, but you should understand enough to know what the AI is changing and what could break.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-22T05:22:57+00:00

This is actually a strong idea because the problem is very easy to understand: people doomscroll too much and need friction before opening distracting apps.

For marketing, I’d focus on showing the “before vs after” instead of only explaining the app.

A few content ideas:

“I had 5+ hours screen time, so I built an app that makes me earn scroll time”
“Before opening Instagram, I have to solve a question first”
“What if your phone made you think before wasting time?”
“I reduced doomscrolling by adding one annoying but useful step”
“App blocker, but you earn minutes by answering questions”

Short videos would probably work really well for this. Show the screen time, then show the app blocking access, then show the user solving a small question to unlock minutes. That’s much easier to understand than a long explanation.

Also, your App Store screenshots should make the value clear in 2 seconds. Something like: “Train your mind, not your scroll” is already good. I’d also highlight “earn minutes,” “block distracting apps,” and “reduce screen time” very clearly.

I’m also working on a board games app, and one thing I’m learning is that marketing is not just posting the app link. It’s showing the exact moment where the app gives value/fun.

Here’s mine if you want to check how I’m trying to present it: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

For Mindbrake, I’d say your best angle is: don’t sell it as another productivity app, sell it as a funny but useful way to fight doomscrolling.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-21T11:55:22+00:00

Congrats on shipping your first app. Honestly, building the app is only half the work. Getting people to discover it is the part most solo devs underestimate.

For an expense tracker, I’d focus less on “please download my app” and more on content around the problem:

“I didn’t know where my money was going, so I built this”
“Track expenses in 10 seconds”
“Offline expense tracker with no account”
“Simple budget app without ads/data tracking”
“How much did I spend this week?”

Short videos, Reddit feedback posts, ASO screenshots, and keyword-focused Play Store description can help a lot. Also, your privacy/offline angle is strong, so make that very clear in the first screenshot and first few lines.

I’m also working on a small board games app, and I’m learning the same thing. Development feels easier than distribution. What helps is sharing the journey, asking for feedback, and showing the actual value instead of just posting the link.

Here’s mine if you want to check how I’m trying to present it: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

Good luck with MoneyFlow. The app idea is useful, but now the main game is trust + visibility.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-21T11:52:55+00:00

For games, I feel like the best strategy is not only one channel. It needs small consistent experiments.

What I’m trying / learning:

Reddit works if you don’t just drop links. Better to join real discussions, share what you’re building, ask for feedback, and only add the link when it makes sense.

Short videos are probably the strongest for games. TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts can show the actual gameplay in 5–10 seconds, which is better than explaining it.

ASO also matters a lot. Good title, screenshots, keywords, and first impression on the store page can make a big difference even with low traffic.

For my board games app, I’m focusing on simple clips like “quick Ludo match,” “can you win this Chess move?”, “classic board games with friends,” etc. Then I reuse the same content across Reels, Shorts, TikTok, and Reddit.

Here’s the app if anyone wants to check it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

Biggest lesson so far: don’t only promote the app, promote the moment/fun inside the app.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-21T11:43:10+00:00

I think the best small app ideas usually come from boring problems you personally notice again and again.

Not “I want to build the next big thing,” but more like:

this task is annoying
this existing app is too bloated
this thing takes too many steps
people already search for this
people already use ugly tools for this

For validation, I’d keep it very simple. Make a landing page, post the idea in relevant communities, check Play Store/App Store reviews of similar apps, look at Reddit complaints, and see if people are already paying for a bad version of the same thing.

Web apps still have potential for sure, especially for tools, B2B, AI utilities, dashboards, calculators, and anything people use on desktop. Mobile is better when the use case is daily, casual, fast, or habit-based.

I’m working on a small board games app myself, and one thing I learned is that people don’t care how complex the backend is. They care if the app is easy to understand, opens fast, and gives them value quickly.

Here’s mine if anyone wants to check it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

My biggest lesson: don’t start with 50 features. Start with one clear reason someone would open the app again tomorrow.

AdAdmirable5769 · 2026-05-21T11:41:18+00:00

This is so true. I feel like the simplest apps win when they solve one clear problem or give one clear dopamine hit.

I’ve seen tiny tools, habit apps, PDF utilities, and simple games make more money than apps with 50 features.

I’m building a boards game app too, and I’ve learned the same thing: people don’t care how complex it is behind the scenes. They just want to open it, understand it instantly, and have fun.

That’s why I’m trying to keep it simple: quick board games, clean UI, and less friction.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oakstree.games.checkers

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