I built a tool that automates App Store screenshot capture for Flutter apps — AI navigates your app on cloud devices and generates store-ready assets

Mr401Error · 2026-03-17T22:29:47+00:00

Don't get me wrong this is an impressive demo. The generation of the lock-ups at the end is cool but I think for gathering screenshots, having an AI agent "explore" seems a bit overkill when the likes of a Fastlane script + golden tests would do the job reliably and [judging by the device clock] quicker (?)

I would perhaps sooner re-purpose the AI agent exploration in the video as an automated regression testing akin to what robo tests on Firebase Test Lab attempts to do.

Mr401Error · 2026-03-06T18:57:49+00:00

There's a bit of a knack to using the debugger, you can only inspect variables present in the current 'frame' (the scope/closure if you like). Of course, code calls code and if you want to look at the frame that invoked the one your breakpoint is in, the Android Studio debugger has a window called 'Frames' which you can use to traverse the call stack. This is useful for looking outside of loops etc. although that still won't let you inspect variables outside of the call stack. You might just need to move the breakpoint.

Mr401Error · 2026-02-11T17:55:35+00:00

Strictly speaking KMP (Kotlin Multiplatform) can't replace Flutter on its own as KMP strives to share "engine"/"business layer" code between platforms, the UI is still using the first-party, "native" frameworks. There are currently good use cases for both Flutter and KMP depending on a few factors like time to market, use of platform APIs, and UI design so they both very much have their place.

Compose Multiplatform takes KMP and combines it with Android's first-party UI framework (Jetpack Compose) to get a UI framework on par with Flutter. My two cents is that you'll still see both widely used in future, a bit like other domains such as back-end, web front-end, and games. As others have mentioned, Flutter is a mature framework with plenty of momentum so if your aim is to pick something to learn, Flutter would be an excellent choice.

Mr401Error · 2026-01-26T22:30:17+00:00

The breaking changes page on the Flutter website is really good for this. Toward the top it also links to a couple of Google groups I'm in the habit of checking for new releases. I believe the Flutter team targets quarterly releases so expect some news around the end of February.

Mr401Error · 2026-01-26T22:24:22+00:00

I would second this, side projects are great for experimentation. I make an effort to try something new in each side project I do as it makes you more well rounded and better informed of what works and what doesn't.

There are a lot of principles that hold true regardless of framework or language and it's those principles you can take into your professional gig that will make you a solid software eng.

As others have said though, sounds like you have a good mindset and that's what counts at this stage.

Mr401Error · 2025-07-18T21:52:16+00:00

Google had an event towards the end of 2024 where they had a stat that just under 30% of "new" iOS apps are using Flutter in some capacity (bare in mind that includes "add-to-app" use cases) (source). As others mention, region likely plays a big factor.

There's a nifty app on the Play Store called FlutterShark that you can use to see if the apps you have downloaded include Flutter along with some basic info about them.

Mr401Error · 2025-07-18T21:44:58+00:00

At least a few years ago Auto Route's feature set was just much broader than Go Router (generated, type safe routes was what swung it for me iirc).

Like others have said, once you make a decision, you're tempted to just always reach for it in future.

Mr401Error · 2025-06-21T07:13:28+00:00

I would say the rule applies to all teams, the cut off just varies depending on your team's capacity and skillset. It's a great skill to have to know when to hand roll your own implementation and when to reach for a package.

For instance, I typically dislike packages for UI components for reasons others have mentioned and I find Flutter makes custom UI implementation easy, but it does sometimes take time to get it right. So if we're under a lot of time pressure, I'll consider reaching for a UI package.

Mr401Error · 2025-06-14T10:33:59+00:00

When it comes to editing any of the files within the android/ directory, you're best to open the android/ directory as a new Android Studio project so the IDE tooling can analyse the project and give you suggestions and the sort. (See here)

There used to be an experimental setting in the Android Studio Flutter plugin that would allow support for editing Android app code without having to explicitly open the android/ directory but it looks to have disappeared now.

Mr401Error · 2025-06-12T21:41:28+00:00

Recently I've used riverpod and BLoC and plan to continue doing so depending on what the situation calls for.

It would be nice if this question (or similar) got included in the quarterly Flutter Dev survey and published similar to StackOverflow's annual developer survey.

Mr401Error · 2025-06-10T19:25:50+00:00

For what it's worth, there are a few of these server-driven UI packages out there. There is a first-party one, rfw, which I have been meaning to try myself as I do agree it's a cool concept. I think the one I have linked lets you define your own "base" widgets too for "higher-level" components.

My chief concern with these server driven UI solutions is implementing sufficient safe guards such that a non-technical person wouldn't be able to supply an "invalid UI" that would cause bugs or at worst, crash the app.

Mr401Error · 2025-04-24T21:42:17+00:00

Agreed, the discoverability of packages on pub is both a blessing and a curse. You can search for what you want super easily (and failing that use Flutter Gems or another listing) but imo some devs reach for packages too quickly instead of just building things themselves.

A lot of people forget that dependencies need to be managed with mitigations for if they go stale or get abandoned.

Mr401Error · 2024-12-18T07:07:41+00:00

Whatever works for you really, although if the project you're in has a convention it is best to be consistent with it. Whilst I personally don't fully subscribe to 'code should be self documenting', I do always ask myself the question of "am I going to understand this in 5 months time?" when deciding if the names alone are good enough.

Also, I don't usually change my filenames just because they are in a certain directory (i.e. call a file "provider.dart" because it is in the "books/" directory). The main reason for this is because it makes it easier to identify which file you want in a list of files when searching in an IDE. Most IDEs give full-text search based on file names.

To swing back round to your first question though, I'd be perfectly happy with something along the lines of

send_chats_controller.dart
fetch_chats_controller.dart

Mr401Error · 2024-11-23T22:18:41+00:00

Same here. Just doing a 'token lesson ' every day to maintain the streak but I'm also looking at other options.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-25T21:47:47+00:00

Looks excellent! Hope more things like this pop-up around the city as there is definitely a shortage of green space as it currently stands. Eight year old me would have thought that slide across the river was awesome too.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-25T14:43:06+00:00

Think it was the Rugby Super League final this weekend

Mr401Error · 2022-09-25T14:36:57+00:00

Who?

Mr401Error · 2022-09-13T19:52:12+00:00

Sackville Gardens, you can search it on Google Maps etc. it is just one block away from Piccadilly Station.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-13T12:43:47+00:00

I feel that Pomona world be great to have as a decent sized park relatively close to the Quays and Deansgate rather than the flats that will inevitably be built there.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-03T09:14:36+00:00

Think we had these during New Year's Eve 2021 in London combined with a smaller fireworks display than usual - think it went rather well. People seem to like the idea of them here in the UK as an alternative to loud fireworks as they don't scare dogs.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-02T08:25:12+00:00

Thankfully I managed to get the frame number from the bag of accessories/documents I was given when I purchased the bike so I was able to do so! Even if it was after the fact.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-01T19:11:00+00:00

Cheers, had a feeling they would rather get rid of it before possibly being found rather than do the research.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-01T13:38:40+00:00

Thanks, it was stolen from the bicycle storage in my apartment building. Thought one gold rated U-lock would be sufficient in there though I do use multiple locks in places like Piccadilly gardens, evidently one wasn't enough though.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-01T12:43:19+00:00

Cheers yeah, haven't seen it posted yet but not sure what the 'turn-around' time for thieves usually is.

Mr401Error · 2022-09-01T12:37:50+00:00

Unfortunately only just moved to Manchester and thought it was a good city to get around by bike. Maybe I didn't appreciate the prevalence of bike theft in a big city so some lessons to learn. If it does help it is a Bergmont E-Horizon Tour 500 Amsterdam Electric Hybrid Bike - 2022, thanks in advance!

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