open-im-flutter-demo

Introduction to the OpenIM Flutter Demo

The OpenIM Flutter Demo is a sample application developed for showcasing the integration of the OpenIM SDK into a mobile app. This demo supports Android and iOS platforms and is designed to demonstrate core functionalities of the OpenIM solution in a Flutter environment. The OpenIM initiative centers on providing open-source instant messaging solutions, and the demo app acts as a practical example of how to use the OpenIM SDK to build chat applications.

Tech Stack

The application is built using the Flutter framework, which allows for the creation of cross-platform mobile apps from a single codebase. The demo makes use of the open-im-sdk-flutter library, which is an implementation of the OpenIM SDK tailored for Flutter applications.

Getting Started with the Demo

To explore the functionalities of OpenIM, users can download the demonstration app directly to their Android devices through a provided QR code. If intending to explore the application's codebase or customize the solution, developers are encouraged to set up a development environment using either Android Studio or VSCode, and ensure Flutter version 3.22.3 is installed.

Building the Demo

To build the OpenIM Flutter Demo, developers should follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository from GitHub: https://github.com/OpenIMSDK/Open-IM-Flutter-Demo.git.
2. Modify the server address in the config.dart file to point to your own server setup.

     static const _host = "your-server-ip/domain";
   

3. Update SDK versions to the latest to ensure you are running with the most recent codebase.

   flutter_openim_sdk: latest
   

4. Fetch dependencies and build the project using:

   $ flutter pub get
   $ flutter run # for iOS, use a real device for testing
   

Frequently Encountered Issues

1. Language Support: The demo supports multiple languages, adapting to the system's default language settings.
2. Platform Compatibility: The app works on both Android and iOS devices.
3. Release Build Issues: If Android release builds result in a white screen, disable code shrinking in build.gradle.
4. Obfuscation Challenges: To avoid problems with code obfuscation on release, adding specific keep rules in the proguard file is suggested.
5. Emulator Execution: To run the app on an Android emulator, ensure proper CPU architecture settings are included.
6. iOS CD Configuration Errors: Set architecture to ARM64 and follow specific terminal commands to resolve errors regarding signing configurations.

Community and Collaboration

The OpenIM project fosters a vibrant community encouraging collaboration and contribution. The community provides multiple avenues for involvement:

• Community Meetings: OpenIM hosts regular meetings to discuss updates and contributions, accessed via their Slack channel.
• User Stories: A section dedicated to user case studies, where different implementations of the OpenIM are showcased, providing real-world examples of the project's impact.

Licensing

The OpenIM project is licensed under Apache 2.0, ensuring its broad adoption and adaptation within various projects and commercial ventures.

The OpenIM Flutter Demo epitomizes a robust and flexible approach to integrating communication features into Flutter applications, providing developers a starting point for building unique messaging solutions tailored to various business needs.