10 Essential Skills for Flutter Developers: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Everyone follows their path when learning new programming languages or frameworks. On-site courses, boot camps, self-learning. So, is there one way to become a Flutter developer? Of course not. However, learning about what you actually need to know should be your first step.

Flutter development services have become a go-to solution for building high-quality cross-platform applications. Whether you're working with a Flutter company or hiring Flutter developers, understanding the essential skills required to excel in Flutter app development services is crucial. This guide delves into the top skills every beginner Flutter developer should focus on to succeed in this dynamic field. I listed the skills or tools that I find essential to get started with mobile development in Flutter. Read on to find out what helped me get the first job as a Flutter developer at Monterail and my recommendation for beginners.

Source: Flutter website

There is no single approach to state management in an application. Many alternative solutions have been created, such as Provider, Bloc, Riverpod, Redux or GetIt. At Monterail, we use the Bloc pattern. In large projects, this approach is very appropriate and allows you to apply the assumptions of clean architecture. 

Bloc makes separating presentations from business logic easy, making your code fast, easy to test, and reusable. Bloc is easy to understand and can be used by developers of various experience levels. You can also quickly test every aspect of the application. Therefore, I recommend that you read the bloc documentation. It is very clear. Moreover, many interesting examples from which you can draw patterns have been added. Many companies use this approach. In requirements for a Flutter developer position, Bloc knowledge is often required. However, if you take a different approach, you can preview other possible solutions.

Clean architecture and testing are core issues when our project is large, and many developers work on it at the same time. In Flutter, a complex UI tree of components is often built. Therefore, it is important to separate the individual layers and use test-driven development (TDD). Probably the best course I found for Flutter in this context is the Flutter TDD Clean Architecture Course by ResoCoder. It combines the bloc pattern with the TDD approach.

You can also run Flutter Doctor to check the status of your setup. A clear and user-friendly Debug Toolbar allows you to trigger hot restart, hot reload, or DevTools while debugging the app.

Useful aliases for commands: Some commands are used frequently (e.g., for code generation), and instead of typing such a long command manually each time, we can use an alias. Example: alias fpg=”flutter pub get”

VSCode shortcuts for Flutter Development. Quick Fix: This is a basic but very useful shortcut. Below is the key combination that allows us to open the contextual list of code actions.

MacOS: CMD+.

Windows: CTRL+.

As we know, the widget tree can grow significantly, and sometimes we want to wrap a widget with another one, and thanks to this shortcut, it’s pretty fast. We don’t have to worry about parentheses; the environment cares for us. This shortcut lets us quickly remove a specific widget from the widget tree. We aim to break down complex trees into smaller widgets. Thanks to this shortcut, we can quickly extract a new widget. This shortcut is also often useful when converting a stateless widget to a stateful one. With a single click, the entire structure is correctly modified.

Command Palette: The Command Palette in VS Code is a powerful tool for Flutter development that provides quick access to a wide range of commands and features without navigating through the UI. By simply pressing:

Ctrl + Shift + P on or  CMD + Shift + P on Mac, 

you can open the Command Palette and search for any command you need.

Why Use Command Palette

1. Efficiency: It allows you to quickly execute commands like creating new Flutter projects, running flutter build or flutter run, performing hot reloads, and more, all without leaving the editor.

2. Ease of Access: You can search for and execute any command in VS Code or extensions like Flutter without knowing their exact names or where they are in the menus.

3. Customization: You can customize the Command Palette with your own commands or key bindings, making it even more tailored to your workflow.

4. Debugging Support: You can quickly start, stop, or restart debugging sessions, access Flutter DevTools, and more directly from the Command Palette.

The Command Palette in VS Code also makes adding dependencies to your Flutter project easy. Instead of manually editing the pubspec.yaml file, you can add dependencies directly through the Command Palette, which streamlines the process.

Adding Dependencies via Command Palette:

1. Open the Command Palette.

2. Type and select "Flutter: Add Dependency."

3. Enter the name of the package you want to add (e.g., provider, http, etc.).

4. VS Code will automatically update your pubspec.yaml file and fetch the necessary package.

Benefits:

• Quick and Convenient: You don't need to manually open and edit the pubspec.yaml file.

• Automated Package Retrieval: VS Code automatically runs flutter pub get after adding the dependency, ensuring the package is fetched and integrated into the project.

• Error Reduction: This approach minimizes the chances of errors when adding dependencies by ensuring the correct format and placement in the pubspec.yaml file.

This feature further enhances the Command Palette's role as a productivity booster for Flutter development.

Search files by name

Undoubtedly, as our project grows, we end up with more and more files. Sometimes, we want to quickly navigate to a specific file through the project's folder structure, which can be neither fast nor pleasant. For this, we have a handy shortcut:

• MacOS: CMD + P

• Windows: CTRL + P

With this shortcut, you can type a part of the filename that appears in the search bar, and it will list suggestions. Clicking on the preferred suggestion will instantly take you to that file. This is one of the most useful shortcuts for daily work.

Flutter Tests Assistant

By the way, I’d like to mention a great extension we developed at Monterail: Flutter Tests Assistant.  When writing tests for our code, we try to maintain the folder and file structure in the test folder in line with the project structure. This extension allows you to quickly create or navigate to a test in the correct location. Key features include:

• Create a matching {xyz}_test.dart file with customized boilerplate test inside

• Switch between the implementation and test files with shortcuts.

Other useful commands

Go to Definition:

• Windows: F12

• MacOS: F12 Jump to the definition of a symbol or function.

Multi-Cursor Editing:

• Windows/Linux: Alt + Click

• MacOS: Option + Click Insert multiple cursors and edit code in multiple places simultaneously.

Rename Symbol:

• Windows/Linux: F2

• MacOS: F2 Rename variables, functions, or classes throughout the project.

Duplicate Line:

• Windows/Linux: Shift + Alt + Down/Up

• MacOS: Shift + Option + Down/Up Duplicate the current line or selection.

Start/Stop Debugging:

• Windows/Linux: F5 / Shift + F5

• MacOS: F5 / Shift + F5 Start or stop the debugging session.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard mappings can be changed by executing the Open Keyboard Shortcuts command from the Command Palette.

Common Flutter Snippets in VS Code

Both Flutter SDK and VS Code come with built-in snippets that can greatly speed up Flutter app development. Snippets allow you to quickly generate commonly used Flutter widgets, structures, and code patterns by typing short keywords.

Here are some of the well-known and frequently used Flutter snippets in VS Code:

• stless: Expands to a stateless widget template

• stful: Expands to a stateful widget template

• initstate: Quickly adds the initState() method to a stateful widget

• dispose: Adds the dispose() method to a stateful widget for cleaning up resources:

• setstate: Quickly adds a setState() block for updating UI state:

Flutter UI Snippets

The Flutter Widget Snippets extension for VS Code is a highly useful tool for Flutter developers. It provides a comprehensive collection of code snippets that cover a wide range of standard Flutter widgets and patterns. Here’s a brief overview of what the extension offers.

These built-in snippets help speed up the development process by reducing the need to repeatedly type out common Flutter structures and widgets. This enables developers to focus on writing custom logic and building features. You can also create custom snippets in VS Code for even more tailored development efficiency.

How to Modify VS Code Settings for Flutter Development

VS Code settings can be customized to enhance your development workflow, particularly for Flutter projects. Here’s a guide on accessing and modifying these settings, along with a description of each setting that can help improve your productivity.

Accessing VS Code Settings

1. Open Settings via GUI:

   • Windows/Linux: Go to File > Preferences > Settings or use the shortcut Ctrl + ,.

   • MacOS: Go to Code > Preferences > Settings or use the shortcut CMD + ,.

2. In the settings UI, you can search for settings by name and modify them directly.

3. Open Settings in JSON Format:

   • Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette, then type Preferences: Open Settings (JSON) and select it.

   • MacOS: Press CMD + Shift + P, type Preferences: Open Settings (JSON), and select it.

4. This opens the settings file where you can directly add or modify settings in JSON format.

Key Settings for Flutter Development

editor.formatOnSave: Automatically formats your code when saving a file, helping maintain a consistent code style."editor.formatOnSave": true

editor.codeActionsOnSave: Automatically applies code actions like fixing errors or organizing

"editor.codeActionsOnSave": {

  "source.fixAll": true,

  "source.fixAll.eslint": true

}

bracketPairColorization.enabled: Enables colorization of matching brackets for better visual clarity in nested code."bracketPairColorization.enabled": true

dart.debugExternalLibraries: Allows debugging of Dart libraries outside your main codebase, useful for debugging third-party packages."dart.debugExternalLibraries": true

dart.flutterSdkPath: Specifies the path to your Flutter SDK, ensuring VS Code uses the correct version.

"dart.flutterSdkPath": "/path/to/flutter/sdk"

editor.rulers: Adds vertical rulers to the editor to enforce line length limits, improving code readability."editor.rulers": [80, 120]

files.autoSave: Automatically saves files after a delay or when the window loses focus."files.autoSave": "afterDelay",

"files.autoSaveDelay": 1000

editor.tabSize: Defines the number of spaces per tab, ensuring consistent indentation."editor.tabSize": 2

dart.previewLinting: Enables preview linting for Dart code, showing linting issues before they are applied."dart.previewLinting": true

flutter.experimentalSnippets: Enables experimental Flutter snippets for more advanced development features.

"flutter.experimentalSnippets": true

editor.parameterHints.enabled: Shows parameter hints for functions and methods to provide context on expected arguments.

"editor.parameterHints.enabled": true

dart.inlayHints.enabled: Displays inline hints for Dart parameters and types within your code for better readability."dart.inlayHints.enabled": true

editor.minimap.enabled: Enables or disables the minimap, which provides an overview of the file for easier navigation."editor.minimap.enabled": true

By customizing these settings, you can tailor VS Code to fit your workflow better and improve your efficiency in Flutter development. Adjusting these settings in the JSON file allows for precise control over your development environment.

GitHub Copilot Overview for Flutter Development

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It provides intelligent code suggestions directly within your editor, helping you write code faster and with fewer errors. Based on your input, Copilot can suggest code snippets, complete functions, or even generate entire classes.

Key Features for Flutter Development:

1. Context-Aware Suggestions: Copilot analyzes the context of your code and comments to offer relevant code suggestions. For example, if you are working on a Flutter widget, Copilot can suggest how to set properties, add child widgets, or handle events.

2. Code Completion: Provides real-time code completions for Flutter widgets and functions. Copilot can offer completions and even write boilerplate code if you start typing a widget or method.

3. Rapid Prototyping: Speeds up the development process by quickly generating Flutter widget trees, state management code, or even entire screens based on descriptions or partially written code.

4. Learning from Comments: If you write comments describing what you want to achieve, Copilot can generate the corresponding code. For example, typing // Create a button that shows a dialog can prompt Copilot to generate the code for a button that shows an alert dialog.

How to Install GitHub Copilot:

1. Install GitHub Copilot Extension:

   • Open VS Code.

   • Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side or pressing Ctrl + Shift + X (CMD + Shift + X on Mac).

   • Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click Install.

2. Sign In:

   • After installation, sign in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot. You may need to subscribe to GitHub Copilot for full access.

3. Usage:

   • Start typing in your code editor, and Copilot will provide suggestions. Use Tab to accept a suggestion or Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) + Space to see additional options.

GitHub Copilot is a powerful tool that complements snippets by providing intelligent code suggestions and assisting with more complex coding tasks. It thereby enhances your productivity and coding efficiency in Flutter development.

Image Source: Github.com

Why Use Packages and Dependencies?

Accelerate Development: Packages and dependencies provide pre-built solutions for common problems and tasks, saving time and effort. For example, packages can handle everything from state management and network requests to animations and UI components.

Enhance Functionality: Using well-maintained packages, you can easily add complex features to your app, such as push notifications, authentication, or analytics, without building them from scratch.

Leverage Community Expertise: The Flutter community and experts develop and maintain many packages. By using these packages, you benefit from the community's collective knowledge and experience, along with regular updates and improvements.

Maintain Consistency: Packages help ensure consistency in your project by providing standardized solutions and best practices. This is particularly useful when multiple developers are working on the same project.

Reduce Code Complexity: Using packages can simplify your codebase by abstracting complex functionalities into manageable components. This makes your code easier to understand, maintain, and debug.

How to Use Packages and Dependencies

You can quickly or manually add a new dependency via the Command Palette described above. I recommend adding dependencies manually if you are a beginner Flutter developer. You will see how the process looks from the ground up.

Adding Packages to Your Project

To use a package in your Flutter project, you need to add it to your pubspec.yaml file. This file is located at the root of your Flutter project and manages the dependencies for your application.

dependencies:

  flutter:

    sdk: flutter

  provider: ^6.0.0

  http: ^0.14.0

In this example, the provider and http packages are added as dependencies. The caret (^) symbol indicates you want to use the latest minor version! This is a good approach because increasing the minor version usually means that the package changes are not drastic, and it will not ruin our flow. However, it is always worth being vigilant because sometimes a minor change is not minor but major. This is a problem for the package contributors, but we should always watch for human error and pay attention to good versioning practices. 

Installing Packages

After adding packages to pubspec.yaml, run the following command in your terminal to install them: flutter pub get

This command fetches the package and its dependencies, making them available in your project.

Importing Packages

Once installed, you can import a package into your Dart files and use its functionality.import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

import 'package:provider/provider.dart';

Using Package Features:

After importing a package, you can use its features as documented in its documentation. Each package usually comes with detailed instructions on how to use it effectively.// Using the 'http' package to make a network request

Future<void> fetchData() async {

  final response = await http.get(Uri.parse('https://api.example.com/data'));

  if (response.statusCode == 200) {

    // Process the response

  } else {

    throw Exception('Failed to load data');

  }

}

Removing Unused Packages

Over time, you might accumulate unused packages. To keep your project clean and avoid unnecessary bloat, remove unused dependencies from pubspec.yaml.

Best Practices to Follow

Choose Well-Maintained Packages: Opt for well-maintained, well-documented, and regularly updated packages. Check the package’s repository, issue tracker, and user reviews to gauge reliability. The Flutter Favorite program is one indicator of package quality.

The Flutter Favorite program aims to identify packages and plugins that you should first consider when building your app.

Review Package Documentation: Thoroughly read the documentation for any package you use. Understanding its features, limitations, and usage patterns will help you integrate it effectively.

Test Integration Thoroughly: Ensure you thoroughly test any third-party package in your application to identify and address potential issues early in development.

Contribute Back: If you find bugs or need improvements to a package, consider contributing to the community by submitting issues or pull requests.

Using packages and dependencies is an integral part of Flutter development that can significantly enhance your productivity and the quality of your applications. By effectively managing and integrating these resources, you can streamline development, leverage community expertise, and build robust, feature-rich apps. Embrace the power of packages and dependencies to make your Flutter development experience more efficient and enjoyable.