Project
I wanted to learn Flutter, so I gave myself the task of making the definitive mobile version of a dice game.
Framework: Flutter/Dart
Design: Photoshop, Illustrator
First Time?
Problem: I've never used Flutter until recently.
Solutions: I dove in. Built something. And then fixed problems. As I worked through working code I learned a lot about Clean Architecture, the MVVM pattern, and how to structure a project in Flutter. I have to admit, learning this new system reawakened something in me - the love of development.
I really like Flutter. It's a great system for building in. The "everything is a widget" in the visual interface took some getting used to, but coupled with a good ModelView and some more declarative programming, it is a powerful way to build an interface with less code.
Art Deco
Problem: Every modern app seems to gain inspiration from the other ones around them. And they all look the same.
Solutions: I leaned into the past. I found some Art Deco imagery and I liked its elegance and geometry.
Art Deco is a very graphic design pattern. And when I started coming up with an interface for the Cache It game, it seemed to be the thing I needed to make it my own and not an - ahem - AI copy of what's out there. I used modern elements - the Bento Box look of each area, the rounded corners, the Roboto-ish font. But the parts of the interface leaning on Art Deco I think make it unique. I also used a gold, black, and deep red color palette that I think adds to the premium feel.
UX - Smoothing It Out
Problem: The other versions of this dice game I have seen have clunky UX.
Solution: I added a bunch of small wrinkles that, I think, add up to a smoother experience.
'Caching' or 'banking' points is accomplished by swiping. Moving to the next player after a roll or a bank is automatic. The current player within the list is always visible. There is an undo button, for when you fat-finger something. There is a list of rolls for every round. The 'High Score' mode shows the leader and how far behind everyone else is.
Next Steps
I'd like to add a voice activated agent, so I can play the game through just by telling my phone what to do next. I've been looking at some Flutter JEV's and Whisper makes a small, accurate voice recognition library.