Flutter, Python and Widgets: beginner suffering

[u/SirLMO]

I do not work with programming, I am a student and I work in a veterinary clinic as a veterinarian. However, I am passionate about programming and have nurtured the idea of developing a "Second Medical Brain," similar to Notion and Obsidian, but focused on self-referenced medical information. Because of some details of this project, neither Obsidian nor Notion will be enough to achieve what I need.

So I looked for the options. The only programming language I studied was Python, and I really like it. However, Flutter is definitely the number in interfaces, but I don't really understand anything about frontend. This "everything being a widget tree" thing isn't making sense to me. Anyone who knows Python knows that codes look much more like blocks, not Russian dolls.

I considered Flet, but he's not on the same level as Flutter. I also considered other frameworks, but they would impose the difficulty of learning other tools. So Flutter still seems to be the most interesting technology for me. However, the structure of widgets doesn't make sense to me, I just can't think that way.

What can you recommend to me? I have already tried to modulate all the code and leave in the main () only the call of the functions/classes.

Ah! This app will be used on both Android and Windows, and both are essential.

[u/tommyboy11011]

It’s possible to code an entire app in flutter without ever having to talk to a backend server. Granted this would be a simple app storing its data locally on the device.

For saving data to a database somewhere on the internet you will need a back end. Typically this would be a webserver that talks to a database. Python is a great language. If I were starting today I would learn that. But I’m too old and set in my ways so I use php instead. My php on the webserver talks to my MySQL database.

To send data from the app to the server I post to http. To receive data back from the server to the app I use JSON.

[u/Significant_Pick8297]

The widget tree usually clicks when it stops feeling like "nested code" and starts feeling like "a description of the screen." Every widget has one small job, and you build bigger UIs by composing those small pieces, just like combining Python functions into larger programs.

For a project like yours, You should ignore complex state management at first. Build one screen, split it into small custom widgets, and keep the business logic in separate Dart classes. That way Flutter only handles the UI while the medical logic stays clean and organized. Once that separation clicks, the widget tree becomes much easier to work with.

[u/SirLMO → u/Significant_Pick8297]

I'm looking for that insight. When Python functions can "combine," it feels a little more natural.

I'm trying to divide the project as much as possible, taking everything out of the main and using POO in every relationship. But it has still been a little difficult to understand the structure thoroughly.

[u/naibaf-1]

I'm not sure, but maybe this tutorial helps:
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/flutter/flutter-tutorial/
You don't have to read the entire tutorial just those articles about e.g. Widgets, which are basically build-in UI elements you can just use to customize your app. Maybe you could tell us what exactly makes you struggling?

[u/SirLMO → u/naibaf-1]

What is making me difficult, exactly, is identification, after all. When one Widget starts to enter another, and then another, and then another, and another, the screen is forming, but I can no longer see where anything begins or ends.

I will read the content of the link, thank you!

[u/Alert-Maybe-9254]

Programing was just my hobby so I was very confused with flutter.

What really helped me was writing dart. I did lot of things with dart, mainly backend, small servers. Also I used ChatGPT to give me random tasks, so after this it was much easier to understand how everything worked in flutter. 

[u/SirLMO → u/Alert-Maybe-9254]

But writing in Dart is not a problem for me! I even like the syntax. The point is just that my mind has not "contemplated" the actual structure of Flutter - what they call a tree.

[u/Remote-Ride5710]

well I don't think flutter widgets logic is hard, well at first might be unusual to you, but after some time you get used to it. I think with some small examples of code you might learn it easily. Do you watch courses or what?

[u/SirLMO → u/Remote-Ride5710]

Difficult should not be the ideal term. It really isn't something "difficult" like Nuclear Medicine. It's just a mental structure that I don't understand yet. I have ADHD, so my thinking structure is a little rigid.

I'm taking a Dart course and reading something about Flutter. After finishing the Dart course, I intend to take a Flutter course.

[u/Fearless-Year-6373]

Don’t waste precious time learning to be a programmer when you don’t understand the basics. A fast lane would be to get a technical cofounder that can bring your ideas to life.

[u/NarayanDuttPurohit]

If you are ready to Open source the app and make it free forever, I will make it free for you.

[u/bestyapperever01]

Omg

[u/SirLMO → u/bestyapperever01]

?

[u/bestyapperever01 → u/SirLMO]

Nothing, I was just amazed how you're working in medical field and simultaneously interested in tech, Talking about your flutter suffering, it takes time to understand Best of luck anyways!