5 Critical Mistakes That Nearly Killed My First Flutter App (And How to Avoid Them)
What I wish I knew before deploying my first Flutter app to production
What I wish I knew before deploying my first Flutter app to production
BackStory
During my early days as a developer, I was eager to build the next big startup.
Like many developers, I had a problem I wanted to solve: my phone was cluttered with apps that consumed system resources, causing lag on my mid-range device.
After researching the progress of web apps and their improved performance on modern browsers, I had an idea: LinkVault—an all-in-one web URL organizer where users could store unlimited URLs in nested folders, complete with previews and favicons, all through a phone app-like interface.
I was excited.
I built it using Flutter and Firebase, shared it with the community, and launched it on the Play Store without proper testing.
The response was positive, but I soon discovered critical architectural mistakes that made the app nearly impossible to maintain.
This article shares the mistakes I made so you don’t have to repeat them.
These insights are particularly valuable if you’re building production applications. If you’re just starting out and building for learning purposes, you may not need to implement all of these practices immediately — but they’re worth understanding for your future projects.
Mistake #1: Poor Architecture & Code Structure
The Problem
Initially, I thought LinkVault was a simple CRUD app for storing URLs—just like a to-do list.
I underestimated this project.
As the project grew, I realized it was far more complex than anticipated. The app needed:
- Web page parsing for metadata extraction
- Offline-first functionality with Firebase sync
- RSS aggregator and reader features
- Link-in-bio functionality
- Favorites and recent tabs
- Reading mode in webview
Without proper planning, every feature became interdependent. State management was coupled, code was repetitive, and making changes felt like navigating a house of cards.
The Lesson
I later discovered Clean Architecture—the industry standard for building scalable applications.
Proper architecture gives you the flexibility to modify components like Lego blocks without affecting the entire system.
Key Takeaway: Plan your architecture from day one. Even if your app seems simple initially, it will likely grow in complexity.
Mistake #2: Database Design Disasters
The Problem
I chose Firebase for its schemaless flexibility, but this became my biggest mistake.
Firebase database for folder Collections and URL collections.
- I designed a nested, tightly coupled database structure that made modifications and migrations extremely difficult.
- Updating multiple collections becomes unmanageable.
- Moving to an SQL database later became nearly impossible due to the complex interdependencies.
The Lesson
Use SQL databases when starting out. They force you to think about structured schemas, which makes you plan your entire project better. The constraints of SQL actually become features that prevent future headaches.
Key Takeaway: Database design is not just about storing data—it’s about planning your app’s future scalability.
Mistake #3: No Proper CI/CD Pipeline
The Problem
I worked without a structured development workflow. I would:
- Bundle multiple features in single PRs
- Work with nested branches that created conflicts
- Skip proper development → testing → production stages
Even as a solo developer, this created chaos. Tracking specific features became impossible, and deployment was always stressful.
The Lesson
Set up CI/CD from day one. Create separate branches for development, testing, and production. This discipline pays dividends as your project grows.
Key Takeaway: Good development practices aren’t just for teams—they’re essential for maintainable solo projects too.
Mistake #4: Strict Authentication Policy
The Problem
I made signup mandatory before users could explore the app. This was a critical error. Many users wanted privacy and local storage with optional syncing, but I forced them through authentication first.
I lost many potential users because of this single decision.
The Lesson
Let users explore your app without creating an account. Strict authentication is acceptable for enterprise apps, but consumer apps should prioritize user experience and privacy options.
Key Takeaway: Reduce friction in your user onboarding. Every additional step costs you users.
Mistake #5: Not Having a Play Store Developer Account Ready
The Problem
Since this was my first production-level app, I didn’t have a Google Play Developer account when my APK was ready for deployment. What I thought would be a simple process turned into a months-long nightmare.
Here’s what happened:
- Payment issues: As a student in India, I needed an international payment card, which took weeks to get from my bank
- Account verification: After paying the one-time fee, verification took 2 months despite multiple support tickets
- App review process: My first app submission took an additional 2.5 months with multiple rejections and complaints filed
In total, I waited nearly 5 months from when my app was ready to when it was live on the Play Store.
The Lesson
Create your developer accounts immediately, regardless of whether you have an app ready. The verification process is lengthy and unpredictable, especially for first-time developers.
Future app releases were much faster (1 week maximum), but that initial verification process was brutal.
Key Takeaway: Don’t let administrative processes block your launch. Set up developer accounts early in your development journey, not when you’re ready to deploy.
What Actually Worked: Smart Monetization
The Success
Not everything was a mistake. My monetization strategy was actually effective:
I allowed users to access the app for 2 days after watching a single rewarded video ad. Here’s why this worked:
- Rewarded video ads are the highest-paying ad format from Google AdMob
- Users preferred one 30-second ad over multiple 5-second interruptions
- Transparency mattered: I clearly communicated that ads covered development costs
Below is the link for my monetization strategy.
Users appreciated the honesty and the fact that they weren’t bombarded with intrusive ads.
Key Takeaway: Be transparent about monetization and prioritize user experience over short-term ad revenue.
What Also Worked: In-App Feature Guides
The Success
Another feature that users genuinely appreciated was my approach to onboarding and feature explanation. Instead of a quick walkthrough that users often skip, I created:
- Detailed video guides embedded directly in the UI
- Comprehensive text explanations that appeared on empty screens
- Permanent help sections that users could reference anytime
When users encountered a new feature or an empty screen, they found clear, accessible guidance right where they needed it. This reduced support requests and improved user satisfaction significantly.
The Lesson
Integrate help directly into your UI, especially for complex features. Don’t rely solely on initial walkthroughs that users forget. Make guidance contextual and always accessible.
Key Takeaway: Good UX includes making users feel confident about using your features, not just discovering them.
The Power of Building in Public
From day one, I shared my journey with the developer community. I asked for suggestions, reviews, and feedback. The response was incredible:
- Positive feedback boosted my motivation
- Critical feedback helped identify missing features
- Feature requests guided development priorities
- Community support provided free marketing
Don’t Fear Idea Theft
Many developers worry about sharing their ideas publicly. Here’s the truth: your idea probably isn’t unique, and that’s okay. There are millions of billion-dollar startup ideas waiting to be implemented, but we don’t see millions of billionaires.
Execution matters more than the idea itself. If you’re serious and consistent, you’ll succeed regardless of competition.
Starting Over: Lessons Applied
Eventually, I made the difficult decision to abandon the original LinkVault codebase and start fresh. But this time, I’m armed with experience:
New Tech Stack:
- Clean Architecture for maintainable code structure
- Supabase instead of Firebase for better SQL database management
- Proper CI/CD pipeline with feature/test/main branch workflow
- User-first authentication with optional account creation
New Mindset:
- Build scalable and fault-tolerant from the beginning
- Plan the database schema carefully
- Prioritize user experience over developer convenience
- Maintain transparency with users
Key Lessons Summary
- Architecture First: Plan your code structure before writing the first line
- Choose SQL: Structured databases force better planning and enable easier scaling
- CI/CD Always: Set up proper development workflows from day one
- User Experience Wins: Reduce friction in onboarding and prioritize user needs
- Prepare Early: Set up developer accounts and administrative requirements before you need them
- Monetize Transparently: Be honest about costs and choose user-friendly ad formats
- Integrate Help: Build guidance directly into your UI, not just initial walkthroughs
- Build in Public: Share your journey for feedback, support, and marketing
- Execution > Ideas: Focus on consistent execution rather than protecting your idea
Conclusion
Building LinkVault taught me that first production apps are learning experiences disguised as products.
Every mistake was a valuable lesson that made me a better developer.
If you’re building your first app, embrace the learning process. Plan your architecture, choose your tools wisely, and don’t be afraid to start over if necessary. Most importantly, build in public and learn from the community.
The goal isn’t to build the perfect app on your first try—it’s to build, learn, and iterate until you get there.
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Are you building your first production app? I’d love to hear about your journey and challenges in the comments below. Let’s learn from each other’s experiences!
