TableTopTracker 2.0 is a revised version of my original TableTopTracker app that I made in unity. This version is made using Flutter and Firebase so I could Develop for multiple platforms and learn a new framework and how to use databases in my apps. The app allows users to track the scores and sync to there opponents in real time. It also has a local mode that allows users to play on one device without internet.
Having trouble loading the game? Play directly on Itch.io
During development, I encountered several technical and design challenges that tested my problem-solving skills and pushed me to learn new concepts.
I found it difficult to adjust to the dart language, I found it very abstract making you have to learn the names of components and widgets to be able to use them effectively. I overcame this by following the official flutter documentation and tutorials to get a better understanding of the framework and how to use it effectively.
I found it difficult to manage the relationship between the frontend and the backend, I eventually added a interface to manage this easier when I implemented local mode that meant I could call functions to update the data base rather than accessing directly.
To allow easy swap between local and online modes I had to create a interface to manage what to do with the data from the app. This meant I had to Refactor a lot of my code to allow this to work effectively.
I learned that user feedback is invaluable in the development process. It helps identify pain points and areas for improvement that I may not have considered.
It would have been easier to plan to have a interface to manage the relationship between the frontend and backend from the start rather than having to refactor my code later on.
I learned that picking up new frameworks can be challenging. Embracing the learning curve and seeking help from the documentation can make the process smoother.
I learned the importance of planning for different devices and screen sizes from the start. This helps ensure a consistent user experience across all platforms.
If I go back to the project, I would like to progress to my further requirements to make it a more complete app. This could include adding the ability to change game missions and add more tabletop features into the app.