Tipsy - Tip Calculator
A Flutter tip calculator application built to explore Riverpod state management while creating a practical utility for everyday use. The app provides real-time calculation updates and flexible tip percentage options for various dining scenarios.
Overview
Tipsy handles the common task of calculating tips and splitting bills among multiple people. The application emphasizes real-time feedback and user convenience through preset tip percentages and custom tip options. This project served as my introduction to Riverpod state management in Flutter.
Core Features
Flexible Tip Options: Users can select from preset tip percentages or set a custom tip amount through a dedicated interface that maintains easy access to frequently used values.
Real-Time Calculations: All outputs update immediately as users modify bill amounts, tip percentages, or split quantities, providing instant feedback without requiring manual recalculation.
Bill Splitting: Integrated functionality for dividing costs among multiple people, automatically calculating individual amounts including tip portions.
Custom Tip Management: The custom tip feature allows users to set and quickly access personalized tip amounts beyond standard percentage options.
Technical Implementation
State Management: Implemented using Riverpod, chosen specifically to learn this modern Flutter state management solution and understand its benefits over other approaches.
Real-Time Updates: Utilized Riverpod's reactive capabilities to ensure all calculations update automatically when input values change, creating a smooth user experience.
UI Architecture: Built with Flutter's widget system, organizing components for clear separation between calculation logic and display elements.
Responsive Design: Interface adapts to different screen sizes while maintaining usability across various device types.
Development Focus
This project served as a practical learning exercise for Riverpod state management. I wanted to understand Riverpod's approach to dependency injection and state reactivity in a real application context.
The tip calculator scenario provided an ideal use case for exploring reactive state management, as multiple interdependent calculations need to update simultaneously when any input changes. This complexity made it perfect for understanding Riverpod's strengths.
I focused on creating calculations that feel immediate and natural, avoiding the delayed updates or manual refresh requirements that can make utility apps feel sluggish.
Technical Stack
- Flutter/Dart - Application framework and language
- Riverpod - State management and dependency injection
Design Approach
The interface follows a clean, functional design that prioritizes usability over visual complexity. UI design inspiration came from Casey Wu's Daily UI Calculator concept on Dribbble, adapted for tip calculation workflows.
The layout emphasizes the most common user actions while keeping advanced features easily accessible without cluttering the primary interface.
