Ultimate Flutter for Cross-Platform App Development: Build Seamless Cross-Platform Flutter UIs with Dart, Dynamic Widgets, Unified Codebases, and Expert Testing Techniques 9788196994709

Table of contents :
Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgements
Preface
Errata
Table of Contents
SECTION 1 Getting Started with Flutter
1. Introduction to Flutter and its Environment
Structure
Overview of Flutter and its advantages
Flutter Under the Hood
Architectural Layers
Reactive User Interfaces
Introducing Widgets
The Rendering Process
The Platform Embedders
Flutter and Third-Party Code
Flutter for the Web
Reasons to Choose Flutter
Fast Development and Time-to-Market
Single Codebase, Multiple Platforms
Beautiful and Customizable UI
High Performance
Strong Community and Ecosystem
Setting up the Development Environment
Systems Requirements
Operating System
Hardware Specifications
Installing Flutter SDK
Configuring Visual Studio Code
Installing Flutter Dependencies
Troubleshooting
Flutter SDK Installation Error
Flutter Command Not Found
Android Emulator Issues
iOS Simulator Issues (macOS)
Dependency Management Errors
Connection Errors
Community Resources
Exploring Flutter Project Structure
Directory Structure
Configuration Files
Important Files
main.dart
pubspec.yaml
build.gradle (Android) and Podfile (iOS)
AppDelegate.swift (iOS) and MainActivity.kt (Android)
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Multiple Choice Questions
Answers
Questions
Key Terms
2. Introduction to Dart Programming
Structure
Introduction to Dart
The Genesis
Overview of the Dart Language
Dart Under the Hood
Dart Syntax Basics
Dart’s Most Commonly Used Keywords
Dart Comments
The Entry Point
DartPad Playground
Understanding Variables and Data Types in Dart
Variables
Data Types
Understanding Dart Operators
Arithmetic Operators
Assignment Operators
Comparison Operators
Dart Statements
Control Statements
Loop Statements
Functions
Object-Oriented Programming
Exception Handling
Throw
Catch
Finally
Dart Null Safety
Dart Best Practices
Naming Conventions
Code Formatting
Conclusion
Assessment
Points to Remember
Answers
Key terms
Further Reading
3. Exploring Flutter Widgets and UI Elements
Structure
Introducing Flutter Widgets
Exploring the Widget Catalog
Basic Widgets
Scaffold
AppBar
Container
Column
Row
Image
Text
ElevatedButton
SizedBox
Input Widgets
Autocomplete Widget
Form
Accessibility Widgets
Semantics
ExcludeSemantics
MergeSemantics
Reconciliation and Hot Reload
Working with Containers: Building Your Layouts
Working with Row Widgets
Scenario: Creating a Row of Colored Boxes
Explanation
Working with Column Widget
Understanding the `Column` Widget
Scenario: Using `Column` with `Container`
Experiment and Customize
Creating a Stunning UI with Text and Image Widgets
Building the UI
Customization and Beyond
Exploring TextField and Button Widgets
Scenario: Creating a Login Screen
Stateless and Stateful Widgets
Understanding the `StatelessWidget`
Format of a `StatelessWidget`
When to Use `StatelessWidget`
Understanding the `StatefulWidget`
The `setState` Function in a `StatefulWidget`
Using `const` for Improved Performance
Defining Immutable Classes
The Power of ‘const’
Performance Boost
Flutter Recommendation
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Solution
Key Terms
SECTION 2 Building Modern UI Designs
4. Styling, Theming, and Interactive UI Designs in Flutter
Structure
Colors and Themes: Adding Life to your App
The Color class
Color representation
Using predefined colors
Creating custom colors
Using colors in widgets
Creating a gradient
Color opacity (Alpha)
Themes: A unified color scheme
Creating a consistent app theme with ThemeData
Defining an app-wide theme
Custom themes for specific parts
Applying a theme
A simple login screen
Flutter Theme best practices
Create a Theme Class for consistency
Utilize `ThemeData` for global styling
Embrace material design widgets
Leverage InheritedWidget for theme access
Modularize Theme elements
Define default values for consistency
Group-related elements
Limit the number of colors
Avoid hardcoded values
Test across devices
Customizing widget appearance
Project requirements
Solution
Full source code
theme.dart
main.dart
Using widgets for user interaction
GestureDetector
InkWell
Animations and motion widgets
AnimatedContainer
AnimatedCrossFade
AnimatedOpacity
Flare: Adding stunning 2D animations to flutter
AnimatedPositioned
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key Terms
5. Working with Images, Media, and Effects in Flutter
Structure
Loading and Displaying Images
Introducing the `http` Package
Adding the `http` Package to Your Project
Making HTTP Requests
Security Considerations
Understanding `ListView.builder` and `FutureBuilder` Widget
Defining `FutureBuilder`
Example Usage
Using FutureBuilder in the Challenge
Challenge: Creating a News List Page
OpenSource NewsApi Data
Step-by-Step Instructions
Solution
Working with Icons and Fonts
Icons for Visual Communication
Custom Fonts for Unique Typography
Customizing the News App
Incorporating Media Elements
Audio Player
Solution
Video Player
Solution
Applying Visual Effects to UI Elements
Implementing the BackdropFilter Effect
Implementing the Opacity Effect in Flutter
Implementing the RotatedBox Widget in Flutter
Implementing Custom Painting and Shaders
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key Terms
6. Typography, Slivers, and Advanced UI Techniques in Flutter
Introduction
Structure
Exploring advanced typography and text styling options
Mastering the Art of Typography
Choosing the Right Typeface
The Hierarchy of Text
Spacing and Line Height
Spacing between Letters (Letter Spacing)
Line Height (Leading)
Whitespace and Padding
Text Shadows and Effects
Custom Fonts
Font Integration
Applying Custom Fonts
Font Packages
Custom Font Best Practices
Creating scrollable and responsive UIs with slivers
Understanding CustomScrollView
Working of CustomScrollView
Slivers
AppBar and SliverAppBar
Creating Dynamic App Bars with AppBar and SliverAppBar
SliverList and SliverGrid
SliverPadding and SliverToBoxAdapter
Custom Slivers
Challenge: Create a Clothing E-commerce UI using Slivers
Implementing complex UI layouts
Stack and Positioned Widgets
Understanding Advanced UI Techniques: Hero Animations and ClipRRect
Hero Animations: Elevating Transitions
ClipRRect: Crafting Rounded Corners and Clipping
Optimizing Performance in UI Design
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key terms
SECTION 3 Creating Cross-Platform UIs
7. Building Adaptive UIs for Different Platforms
Structure
Understanding the Importance of Adaptive UI Design
Reach Across Devices
Changing Screen Orientations
Future-Proofing
Competitive Advantage
Building UI Layouts for Various Screen Sizes
Adaptive versus Responsive App
Responsive App
Adaptive App
Adapting UI Elements for Different Platforms
LayoutBuilder Approach
The Builder Function
Using Constraints
Dynamic Adaptation
Automatic Rebuilding
Building a Responsive AppBar
Project: Flutter Music App
MediaQuery Approach
The MediaQuery Class
Project: Flutter Music App
AspectRatio
OrientationBuilder
Using ScreenUtil Package for Responsive UI
Installation and Setup of ScreenUtil Package
Flutter ScreenUtil Package Usage
Building a Responsive Music Playlist Screen
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key Terms
8. Handling Navigation and Routing
Introduction
Structure
Implementing Navigation between Screens in Flutter
Types of Navigation
Understanding Stack Navigation in Flutter
Music Player Project
Understanding Tab navigation in Flutter
Music Playlist Project with Tab Navigation
Understanding Drawer Navigation in Flutter
Building a Gmail-like app
Understanding Named Routes and Route Arguments
Dynamic Routes in Flutter
Flutter Route Arguments
Handling the Unknown
Guiding Users Through Authentication Flows
Handling Navigation Stack and Back Button Behavior
Deep linking and handling external app links
Handle Incoming Deep Links in Dart Code
Navigation Patterns and Best Practices
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key Terms
9. Utilizing Device Features and APIs
Structure
Utilizing Device Permissions and User Authentication
Permissions for Photo Upload
Secure User Authentication Using Fingerprint or Face
Exploring Phone Contacts
Accessing Device Hardware and Sensors
Using the Image Picker Plugin in Flutter
Step-by-Step Guide to Using sensor_plus in a Flutter App
Working with Platform-Specific Plugins
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Solution
Key Terms
SECTION 4 Testing and Debugging Flutter UIs
10. Widget Testing UI Components
Structure
Introduction to Widget Testing in Flutter
Writing Unit Tests for UI Components
Finding Widgets in Flutter
Widget Finder Methods
Flutter Tool Tip
Step-by-Step Example: Using Widget Finder Methods in Flutter Testing
Keys and Accessibility
Step-by-Step Example: Using Keys and Accessibility in Flutter Testing
Testing with WidgetTester
Step-by-Step Example: Testing with WidgetTester in Flutter
Testing UI Interactions and State Changes
Using Test-Driven Development (TDD) Approach
Best Practices for Testing Flutter UI Components
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Assessment
Key Terms
11. Conclusion and the Next Steps
Structure
Guidance on Further Learning Resources for Flutter
Final Thoughts
Index