Crafting a Seamless User Experience: The Power of Shimmer Effects
When an app launches, every moment counts. A smooth, glitch-free experience is crucial to keeping users engaged and coming back for more. One essential element in achieving this is the strategic use of loading indicators, such as shimmer effects. These visual cues not only alleviate frustration but also build anticipation for the content to come.
The Magic of Shimmer Effects
Shimmer effects are a type of loading indicator that mimic the actual data being rendered on the screen. Instead of a generic progress bar, shimmer effects create a more aesthetically pleasing experience, setting the tone for a seamless interaction. In our example, we’ll explore how to implement shimmer effects in a Flutter app, fetching character data from a Rick and Morty API.
Building the App
To get started, create a new Flutter project and import the necessary dependencies, including http for API requests, shimmer for the loading effect, and stacked for architectural support.
Setting Up Utilities
Create a utils folder containing an api_constants.dart file, which defines the API endpoint for fetching character data. This modular approach ensures clean, reusable code throughout the app.
Defining Models
Next, create two model classes: CharacterResponseModel and CharacterModel. These will hold the response data and individual character details, respectively.
Fetching Character Data
Implement the DashboardService class, responsible for fetching character data using the http package. This service will contain a single method, getCharactersDetails(), which calls the API endpoint and returns the response data.
Designing the UI
Create a UI folder with a home subfolder, containing home_view.dart and home_viewmodel.dart files. The HomeViewModel class extends the BaseViewModel from the stacked package, while the HomeView widget links the view to its view model using the ViewModelBuilder.reactive() constructor.
Setting Up a Locator
Create an app folder with an app.dart file, registering the views and services used in the app. Run the Flutter command to generate the necessary files, including app.locator.dart and app.router.dart.
Finishing the HomeViewModel and HomeView
Complete the HomeViewModel by adding a getCharacters method, which fetches the character list from the DashboardService. In the HomeView, create a base view that displays a shimmer effect while the view model is busy fetching data, and a list of cards when the data is ready.
Finalizing the main.dart File
In the main.dart file, add the setupLocator function, a navigator key, and the onGenerateRoute from the generated files, linking the app from start to finish.
The Result
With these steps, you’ve successfully implemented a shimmer effect in your Flutter app, elevating the overall user experience. Explore the complete source code for the sample app and discover how to integrate this feature into your own projects.