How to Fix Flutter App Freezing When Using ListWheelScrollView with Animated Widgets

Discover how to resolve the `Flutter app freezing` issue caused by ListWheelScrollView and animated widgets like CircularProgressIndicator to ensure a smooth user experience.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Flutter app freezes when use ListWheelScrollView with animating widgets

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Improving Flutter App Performance: Solving the Freezing Issue with ListWheelScrollView

Flutter is a powerful framework for building mobile apps, but like any technology, it can sometimes present challenges. A common issue developers face is the freezing of the app when working with animated widgets alongside certain scrollable components. In this post, we will delve into the issue, particularly when using the ListWheelScrollView with animated widgets like CircularProgressIndicator, and explore how to resolve it.

Understanding the Problem

When you've incorporated features such as animated widgets in your Flutter application, you might notice a frustrating freeze or lag—especially when utilizing the ListWheelScrollView. This problem can manifest regardless of whether you're debugging or running your app in a release mode, leading to frame drops and an uncomfortable user experience.

Example Code

Consider the following simplified code snippet that illustrates the issue:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This code works initially, but after some minutes, you may find performance significantly degrading, rendering your app almost unresponsive.

Finding the Solution

The root cause of this freezing issue might not be immediately apparent, but with some experimentation and debugging, I discovered a workaround that worked effectively.

Use FVM to Manage Flutter Versions

I used the Flutter Version Management (FVM) tool to manage different versions of Flutter, which helped isolate the issue.

Problem: The app froze when I built it using the build button in Android Studio.

Solution: Instead of using the Android Studio build button, I executed builds directly from the command line using FVM:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

or

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This approach resulted in a smooth experience without any freezing or stuttering, contrasting sharply with builds through the IDE.

Conclusion

While this workaround may not address the underlying root cause of the freezing issue, it serves as a practical temporary solution. If you encounter similar problems in your Flutter applications, consider managing your Flutter versions with FVM and transitioning to command-line builds for potentially better performance.

Feel free to experiment with your architecture or reach out to the community for insights, as collaborating can lead to discovering more permanent fixes and optimizations!

By incorporating these changes, you can significantly enhance your Flutter app's performance and offer users the smooth experience they deserve. Happy coding!