Solving the CircularProgressIndicator Issue in Flutter: Optimizing Data Loading with Provider

Discover how to effectively load data in Flutter using Provider and FutureBuilder to avoid issues like infinite loading states.
---

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: I have to go to this screen twice to load data from fetchAndSet in flutter

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Solving the CircularProgressIndicator Issue in Flutter: Optimizing Data Loading with Provider

When developing applications in Flutter, it is not uncommon to encounter issues related to data fetching and displaying. One such problem is when a CircularProgressIndicator shows up during the initial loading of data, but items only appear when revisiting the page. This can be frustrating and confusing for developers and users alike. Let’s dive into this problem and explore how to effectively manage data loading using Flutter's Provider package and FutureBuilders.

Understanding the Problem

In the case described, the user experienced an issue where the data was not being displayed correctly on the first visit to the page. Instead of the expected data appearing right away, the CircularProgressIndicator was shown indefinitely, and only upon returning to the page did the data load correctly. This discrepancy indicates that the widget responsible for displaying the data is not rebuilding as expected after the data is fetched.

Exploring the Solution

To resolve this data loading issue, we’ll implement a few key improvements to the existing code. Here's a structured approach to fixing the problem:

1. Initialize Firebase Properly

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

2. Use a Loading State

To better manage the data loading process, it’s a good idea to maintain a loading state using a boolean value. This will help you determine whether the data is still being fetched or if it has finished loading.

Solution: Update your fetchAndSetAvailableSlots() function to set a loading state before and after data loading.

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

3. Improving the FutureBuilder Logic

Once you’ve established a loading state, modify your FutureBuilder to account for whether the widget is still in the loading state or if it can display data.

Solution: Ensure that your builder's connectionState checks the loading status effectively:

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

4. Notify Listeners Properly

Lastly, ensure that you call notifyListeners() after setting the available time slots. This will inform any listeners that the data has changed and they should rebuild.

By implementing these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of the CircularProgressIndicator not disappearing on the first load, and data should display correctly the first time the screen is accessed.

Conclusion

By moving the Firebase initialization to a more suitable location, maintaining a loading state, and effectively using the FutureBuilder, you can alleviate the common problems associated with displaying data in Flutter applications. Following these best practices will not only improve user experience but also enhance the overall efficiency of your Flutter apps. Happy coding!