Creating a Reorderable List in Flutter

Jan 19, 2022 | Programming

If you’ve ever wanted to implement a slick, iOS-like reorderable list in your Flutter app, you’re in the right place! Today, we’ll guide you through the steps to create a dynamic reorderable list complete with smooth animations.

Preview

Take a look at the magic in action:

Reorderable List Preview

Getting Started

To get started with this functionality, look at the lib/main.dart file for example usage. It provides all the code you need to implement a reorderable list that feels both natural and responsive.

Highlights

  • Works seamlessly with slivers, allowing it to be placed in a CustomScrollView alongside a SliverAppBar.
  • Capable of handling large lists, accommodating thousands of items without compromising performance.
  • Smooth reordering animations that enhance user experience.
  • Supports different item heights for a more flexible design.
  • iOS-like reordering with a drag handle provides an intuitive UX.
  • Android-like long touch reordering gives you the flexibility to cater to both platforms.

Caveats

While this must-have feature brings a lot of conveniences, it’s crucial to note a few caveats:

  • There are no guarantees on API stability. If you’re using a previous version of the reorderable list, you should be aware that the ReorderableListener now needs to be positioned correctly within the ReorderableItem hierarchy to detect touches and initiate reordering (check out the example for clarity).
  • Alternatively, by wrapping the entire row in a DelayedReorderableListener, you can achieve a material-like long-press reordering behavior.

Understanding the Code

Now let’s dive into the code. Imagine your list as a line of people waiting to enter a concert. Each person represents an item in your list. When you want to rearrange them, you can simply ask the person at the front to swap places with the person next to them, similar to how drag-and-drop works in your app. With every swap, the other people synchronize their positions smoothly, assuring that there’s no chaos during the reordering process. This efficiency is achieved using animations, making it appear as though the individuals are gliding into their new spots rather than jumping around unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting

If you run into issues while implementing your reorderable list, here are a few troubleshooting tips:

  • Ensure that the ReorderableListener is correctly placed in your widget hierarchy.
  • Examine the performance when handling very large lists; make sure you’re utilizing proper slivers to maintain smoothness.
  • Check for any conflicts between elements in your row that might disrupt the touch detection.
  • Consider simplifying your list items for initial tests to identify any draggable items that may not be playing nice.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

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