Keys are not tappable in custom keyboard in flutter Android

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Summary

The issue of keys not being tappable in a custom keyboard in Flutter for Android is a common problem that arises due to the way touch events are handled. Touch events are not properly propagated to the keyboard keys, resulting in the keys not being clickable. This issue can be resolved by ensuring that the keyboard view and its components are properly configured to handle touch events.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is that the FlutterView is consuming touch events, preventing them from being propagated to the keyboard keys. This is because the FlutterView has a default behavior of consuming touch events, which can be overridden by setting the OnTouchListener to return false.

  • The FlutterView is not properly configured to handle touch events.
  • The keyboard keys are not properly set up to receive touch events.
  • The OnTouchListener is not overridden to return false, allowing touch events to be propagated to the keyboard keys.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue occurs in real systems because of the complexity of handling touch events in Android. Touch events can be consumed by multiple views, and if not properly configured, can result in unexpected behavior. In the case of a custom keyboard, the keyboard view and its components must be properly configured to handle touch events, otherwise, the keys will not be clickable.

  • Touch event handling is complex and requires proper configuration.
  • View hierarchies can affect the propagation of touch events.
  • Default behaviors of views can override custom configurations.

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of this issue is that users will not be able to interact with the custom keyboard, rendering it useless. This can result in a poor user experience and can affect the overall usability of the application.

  • User experience is affected by the inability to interact with the keyboard.
  • Application usability is impacted by the keyboard not functioning properly.
  • User frustration can result from the inability to use the keyboard.

Example or Code

flutterView.setOnTouchListener { _, _ -> false }
flutterView.isClickable = false
flutterView.isFocusable = false
flutterView.isFocusableInTouchMode = false

This code sets the OnTouchListener to return false, allowing touch events to be propagated to the keyboard keys. It also sets the isClickable, isFocusable, and isFocusableInTouchMode properties to false, ensuring that the FlutterView does not consume touch events.

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers fix this issue by properly configuring the keyboard view and its components to handle touch events. They override the OnTouchListener to return false, allowing touch events to be propagated to the keyboard keys. They also ensure that the keyboard keys are properly set up to receive touch events.

  • Proper configuration of the keyboard view and its components is key to resolving this issue.
  • Overriding default behaviors is necessary to ensure proper touch event handling.
  • Testing and debugging are crucial to ensuring that the keyboard is functioning properly.

Why Juniors Miss It

Juniors may miss this issue because they may not fully understand the complexity of handling touch events in Android. They may not be aware of the default behaviors of views and how they can affect the propagation of touch events. They may also not properly test and debug their code, resulting in unexpected behavior.

  • Lack of understanding of touch event handling can lead to this issue being missed.
  • Insufficient testing and debugging can result in unexpected behavior.
  • Inexperience with Android development can make it difficult to identify and resolve this issue.