Introduction

In programming, we often begin by applying what we've learned to classic favorites like calculator programs, temperature converters, to-do list apps, etc. These simple projects fuel our passion and provide a practical bridge between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. What if we take our projects to the next level and go beyond our usual approach?

Introducing chipIn, an event planning and management app. As a newcomer to app development, I saw this as a valuable opportunity to work on both the front-end and backend aspects of app creation. I developed this application using two key technologies: Flutter for the user interface and Appwrite for the backend. Appwrite is particularly important as it enables the creation of the app's core features.

What can you look forward to for this series

This series offers helpful insights and guidance for building mobile apps, whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer. We'll create an event planning app using Flutter and Appwrite, with each post covering a different aspect:

1. Blog 1: "Getting started with event planning app development - Appwrite & Flutter: Event app tutorial"

   - You are reading it right now.

2. Blog 2: "Setting up Appwrite for chipIn - Appwrite & Flutter: Event app tutorial" - Learn how to quickly set up Appwrite and integrate it into your Flutter app.

3. Blog 3: "Implementing authentication feature for chipIn using Appwrite - Appwrite & Flutter: Event app tutorial" - We'll implement crucial authentication features for our chipIn app, enabling OAuth login/signup using GitHub to enhance security and convenience.

4. Blog 4: "Creating event-related features for chipIn - Appwrite & Flutter: Event app tutorial" - We'll build our app's core functionality, event creation and management.

5. Blog 5: "Theming and finalizing our chipIn app - Appwrite & Flutter: Event app tutorial" - Learn to create a beautiful UI with Flutter's widget library and theming.

Why Flutter

One of the compelling advantages of using Flutter is its ability to empower solo developers. By leveraging Flutter, you can write code once and deploy your app seamlessly on both iOS and Android platforms. Furthermore, Flutter offers a vast selection of modern UI components, allowing you to create visually stunning applications. These are some of the many reasons why I choose Flutter to build this app.

And why Appwrite

I chose Appwrite for my backend services because of its user-friendly interface and mission to simplify backend infrastructures for developers. As a newcomer to mobile development, I value simplicity and seamlessness. I trust that Appwrite will make developing a comprehensive app much more accessible.

Scope of the application

I consider my app in version 1.0, indicating that I intend to expand its features and use Appwrite's various elements. If you'd like to stay in the loop, you can follow me on Twitter for updates about the project.

Currently, our chipIn app will integrate several critical features for event management, and we aim to cover the following functionalities:

1. Authentication

2. Event creation and management

3. Theming our chipIn app

Authentication

Our app uses Appwrite's authentication system for secure registration and login. Users can also sign up or log in with GitHub through OAuth. This ensures a personalized and safe experience for all users.

Event creation and management

Our app's central feature is Event Creation and Management. Users can easily create, join, and access complete event details. Thanks to Appwrite's database, event data management is efficient and seamless.

Theming our chipIn app

Theming of our app will significantly determine the aesthetics and usability of our app. We'll use Flutter's rich widget library to create a visually appealing and intuitive interface and create a custom theme for our app by creating our color palette. I found this part of the process enjoyable as it was exhilarating to witness my app transform from a dull appearance to a more aesthetically pleasing one.

Foundational knowledge to have before proceeding

To ensure a seamless experience as we delve into the content, it would be beneficial to have the following knowledge or skills:

1. Familiarity with Dart (the programming language used in Flutter). If you're new to Dart, go through a beginner's tutorial/course or visit the Dart documentation.

2. Basic understanding of Flutter framework. For your reference, here's the Flutter documentation.

3. Basic knowledge of using GitHub, as we'll be using GitHub for OAuth login/signup.

If you're new to these concepts, don't worry! We'll explain them as we go along, but having some familiarity beforehand will make it easier to follow along.

Conclusion

Our first blog introduces our journey toward building an Event Planning and Management App using Flutter and Appwrite. We'll use Flutter for our front end and Appwrite for our back end. Our app's key features include authentication, event creation and management, and theming our chipIn app.

We will build our app in our upcoming blog by setting up Appwrite. We will then utilize Flutter to implement the core functionalities of our chipIn app, turning our vision into reality. I'll see you there!

Additional resources and support

1. Appwrite's Official Documentation: To understand more about Appwrite's various features, you can visit Appwrite's Official Documentation. Here, you'll find detailed explanations about every feature and how to use them effectively.

2. Flutter's Official Documentation: Visit Flutter's Official Documentation for more details about Flutter and its features, which can help you while creating the Flutter project.

3. Appwrite's Discord Channel: If you face any issues or have any queries regarding Appwrite, Appwrite's Discord Channel is the place to go. You'll find a healthy community ready to assist you.

4. Flutter's Community: If you have questions or face difficulties related to Flutter, you can reach out to Flutter's community. Various channels are available, including a Google group, a subreddit, and a Discord channel.

Remember, there's no need to feel stuck. Appwrite's and Flutter's communities are friendly, informative, and ready to help newcomers to the technology. Happy coding!