Flutter
Best Practices for Handling Errors and Crashes in Flutter Apps
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Introduction
Flutter apps may fail and produce errors as a result of many factors ranging from the user end such as entering wrong details on the app UI to a bug in the API or a wrong setting for widgets. Being a robust framework, Flutter comes with different tools and methods for good error handling. This will let you improve our app's reliability and level of user satisfaction, given you have worked through all the methods described in the article.
Common issues
1. Memory Leaks
Cause: Having extra reference to objects, which are not used anymore in the code.
Solution:
This is particularly suitable to use weak references where necessary.
Check the amount of memory that is being used by the profile through Android Studio Profiler or Instruments in Xcode.
2. Poor Network Handling
Cause: There is no backup solution for the lack of connectivity in the network.
Solution:
There should ideally be a check for network connection prior to the requests being made.
Put in place attempts with error recoverability and structured exceptions handling.
3. Incompatible Libraries or SDKs
Cause: Using libraries which are no longer relevant or compatible with the program for which they are being used.
Solution:
Make frequent updates in dependencies.
Always make sure they are compatible with the target SDK of the app.
4. Main Thread Overload
Cause: Carrying out resource intense operations such as making queries on the database, operating files on the main thread.
Solution:
Any heavy or long lasting operations must be performed on a background thread by using AsyncTask, Coroutines or similar generically defined frameworks.
Example
Let’s create an intentional error by adding a color property to a Container widget that also has a BoxDecoration. This will cause a runtime error, which we’ll handle gracefully.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';void main() { // Global error handling FlutterError.onError = (FlutterErrorDetails details) { // Log the error and display a fallback UI print('Caught Flutter Error: ${details.exception}'); FlutterError.presentError(details); }; runApp(const MyApp());}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget { const MyApp({super.key}); @override Widget build(BuildContext context) { return MaterialApp( home: Scaffold( appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Error Handling Example')), body: const ErrorDemo(), ), ); }}class ErrorDemo extends StatelessWidget { const ErrorDemo({super.key}); @override Widget build(BuildContext context) { return Center( child: Container( // This will cause a runtime error color: Colors.blue, decoration: BoxDecoration( color: Colors.red, // Error: Can't use 'color' both in Container and BoxDecoration ), ), ); }}
Handling the Error Gracefully:
- Replace the color in the Container with either a standalone color property or move it inside the BoxDecoration.
- Add a fallback widget for error scenarios.
Conclusion
Using try catch is one of the most significant fundamentals of developing rock solid Flutter applications. With global error handling, logging and fallback UIs for example, our app is protected from a crash in its critical components. Make sure you always test our app and also integrate accurate error checking mechanism to ensure the users’ experience is as optimal as possible.
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