How to Navigate one of the two screens to users correctly in Flutter? - flutter

Question

Recently I am developing first ever app in Flutter and I know the basics only.
So here's the problem which I am facing currently.
I have to Navigate One of the two screens, either Register or Home page according to old/new user, So what I did is here.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
import 'Register.dart';
import 'HomePage.dart';
class Authenticate extends StatefulWidget {
#override
_AuthenticateState createState() => _AuthenticateState();
}
class _AuthenticateState extends State<Authenticate> {
String _userName = "";
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_getUserName();
}
_getUserName() async {
SharedPreferences pref = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
setState(() {
_userName = pref.getString('userName') ?? "";
});
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
if (_userName == "") {
print('name : $_userName , NEW user'); // ERROR - why it's printing on console for old User ?
return Register();
} else {
return HomePage(_userName);
}
}
}
So the problem is, even if I am opening app through old user, it is printing the debug code written for new user and there's around 0.3 sec screen visibility of Register screen.
So what should I do to fix this?

Answer 1

The print is happening because this line of code:
SharedPreferences pref = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
is asynchronous, which means that it might invoke in some later point in time. Because of that the build method is called first, then your _getUserName method finished, which causes a setState and invokes a build method again.
You might want to show some kind of loader screen until sharedPrefernces is initialized and then decide wheter to show Register or Home page.
Example code:
class _AuthenticateState extends State<Authenticate> {
String _userName = "";
bool _isLoading = true;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_getUserName();
}
_getUserName() async {
SharedPreferences pref = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
setState(() {
_userName = pref.getString('userName') ?? "";
_isLoading = false;
});
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
if (_isLoading) {
return Center(child: CupertinoActivityIndicator());
} else if (_userName == "") {
print('name : $_userName , NEW user'); // ERROR - why it's printing on console for old User ?
return Register();
} else {
return HomePage(_userName);
}
}
}

Answer 2

Try this:
class _AuthenticateState extends State<Authenticate> {
String _userName;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_getUserName();
}
_getUserName() async {
SharedPreferences pref = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
setState(() {
_userName = pref.getString('userName') ?? '';
});
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
if (_userName == null) {
return Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator());
} else if (_userName == '') {
print('name : $_userName , NEW user');
return Register();
} else {
return HomePage(_userName);
}
}
}
In this case, _userName is null initially and will only be assigned a value after the _getUserName() returns either an empty String or an old userName. When null, the widget will build a progress indicator instead. If you don't want that, just return a Container().