Api integration not working in custom keyboard in flutter android

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Summary

The issue at hand is related to API integration in a custom keyboard for Flutter on Android. The custom keyboard is designed to call an API when a user selects text and taps on a specific button, such as “Check Grammar.” However, instead of displaying the API response, the keyboard shows infinite loading without any output or logs, indicating a potential issue with the API call or data processing.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue can be attributed to several factors, including:

  • Incorrect API endpoint or request method
  • Insufficient error handling for API calls
  • Data processing issues, such as parsing or decoding errors
  • Flutter engine or MethodChannel configuration problems
  • InputConnection or keyboard state management issues

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue can occur in real systems due to:

  • Complexity of custom keyboard development, which involves managing multiple components and states
  • API integration challenges, such as handling different request and response formats
  • Limited logging and debugging capabilities in certain environments
  • Inadequate testing of edge cases and error scenarios

Real-World Impact

The impact of this issue can be significant, leading to:

  • Poor user experience due to infinite loading or unresponsive keyboard
  • Loss of functionality, as the API call is not executed or the response is not processed correctly
  • Difficulty in debugging, as the issue may not be easily reproducible or identifiable

Example or Code

private fun showResultState(text: String) {
    Log.d(TAG, "Showing result state: ${text.take(50)}...")
    runOnUiThread {
        keyboardView.findViewById(R.id.result_text)?.text = text
        keyboardView.findViewById(R.id.loading_container)?.visibility = View.GONE
        keyboardView.findViewById(R.id.layout_letters)?.visibility = View.GONE
        keyboardView.findViewById(R.id.result_container)?.visibility = View.VISIBLE
    }
}

How Senior Engineers Fix It

To fix this issue, senior engineers would:

  • Review the API documentation to ensure correct endpoint and request method usage
  • Implement robust error handling for API calls and data processing
  • Use debugging tools to identify and isolate the issue
  • Verify Flutter engine and MethodChannel configuration
  • Test thoroughly, including edge cases and error scenarios

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience with custom keyboard development and API integration
  • Insufficient understanding of Flutter engine and MethodChannel
  • Inadequate testing and debugging skills
  • Overlooking edge cases and error scenarios in their implementation