Released my first Flutter app for both iOS and Android!
I developed my first Flutter app and released it on both iOS and Android, so I'd like to write an introduction and share my impressions about the app.
I've released my first Flutter app on both iOS and Android!
Here's what the app does! (Please be creaful, as it plays sound)
When you tap on cute icons of animals and vehicles from Irasutoya, you can hear audio from Sound Effect Lab.
I wanted to create a simple Flutter app that could be released on both iOS and Android, mainly for my one-year-old son to practice pointing at things. When I actually showed it to him, he was quite interested, and sometimes, when he was crying, I would open the app and hand him the phone, and it would calm him down more than I had expected!
By the way, my niece is also one year old, but she got so startled by the horse sound that she cried. So, it might be a good idea to start with something like a chick to get them used to it.
While the main target audience is toddlers and parents, it's also recommended for gentlemen who might say, "I wish I could listen to the sound of a lion and feel refreshed..." or for ladies who might say, "I'm tired, and I'd like to relax by listening to the sound of a boat..."
It's free, and there are no ads, so please feel free to download and try it out!
*Please note that for the iOS app, you won't hear any sound in silent mode.
Download Links
iOS: Link to the App on the App Store
Android: Link to the App on Google Play
Thoughts on Creating the App:
It may sound cliché, but even though the users so far are only family members, it's really fulfilling and enjoyable to create something from an idea and have it be of some use to people. In my regular job, I don't often get the chance to feel close to users, so this was a refreshing experience.
I have childcare and my main job to manage, and I want to spend time with my family on weekends. Exercise is also essential for my health, so maintaining a routine and finding time is the biggest challenge. I'm conscious of not relying on motivation but rather focusing on routine. My ideal daily routine looks something like this, but during busy work periods, it doesn't always go as planned, and I might laze around in the morning or skip evening workouts. When commuting comes into the picture, personal time becomes almost non-existent, so I'm truly grateful for the current situation where I can work fully remotely.
時間 | やること |
|---|---|
07:00 ~ 07:30 | Morning routine, breakfast |
07:30 ~ 09:30 | side projects, blog writing, reading, studying |
9:30 ~ 12:00 | Main job |
12:00 ~ 13:00 | Lunch, walk |
13:00 ~ 18:30 | Main job |
18:30 ~ 19:00 | Dinner |
19:00 ~ 19:30 | Play with my son |
19:30 ~ 20:15 | Bathing with my son, cleaning the bathroom |
20:15 ~ 21:00 | Putting my son to bed |
21:00 ~ 22:00 | Watching Netflix or doing aerobic exercise while listening to Audible (walking or running) |
22:00 ~ 23:00 | side projects, blog writing, reading, studying (if not too tired) |
23:00 ~ 07:00 | Sleep |
Developing the Flutter app and releasing it on both operating systems has significantly lowered the hurdle for me to develop more substantial apps in the future. However, I want to learn more about Flutter and consider a business strategy before returning to Flutter app development after a study period.
By the way, I'm vaguely considering creating an app that combines typing games and English word learning (including pronunciation). Typing and English are both crucial skills, so I thought there might be a demand for an app that provides fun ways to learn both together.
When I was in kindergarten to elementary school, Windows 98 arrived at our house, and I got addicted to a typing game called "Tokuuchi." I mastered touch typing through this game. Thinking back to 25 years ago, it was quite a well-made game. Now, typing has become a natural act for me as I type all day, but I still find it a bit enjoyable just to type. I believe this game played a significant role in my journey to becoming a software engineer!
Regarding English, I was quite diligent in studying, especially during my university and graduate school years. However, I absolutely hated learning English vocabulary and have no pleasant memories of it. I did participate in an exchange program, and I scored 935 on the TOEIC test in 2016, so I consider myself reasonably proficient, at least in the Japanese context. Still, there are many basic words that I don't understand well (I can understand their meanings when I hear them, but I lack confidence in pronunciation, speaking, and spelling). I feel a disconnect between being able to "read and listen" and being able to "speak and write." I hope to find a fun way to bridge this gap.
Lastly
I've made the source code available here: https://github.com/tkugimot/touch_and_hear
*Please note that I have borrowed audio from Sound Effect Lab (@soundeffect_lab) and illustrations from Irasutoya (@irasutoya), so if you plan to use it for commercial purposes, please check their respective terms and conditions."
