DEV Community: Michael Otieno Olang

Flutter Apps and Android's 16KB Page Size Requirement: A Complete Developer Guide

Michael Otieno Olang — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 06:44:24 +0000

Google Play Store is rolling out a significant change that every Android developer needs to know about. Starting November 1, 2025, all new apps and app updates targeting Android 15+ must be compatible with 16KB memory pages. This requirement has caught many developers off guard, especially those working with Flutter applications.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into what this means, why it's happening, and most importantly, how to ensure your Flutter apps are ready.

Understanding Memory Page Sizes
Memory pages are fixed-size blocks of virtual memory that the operating system uses to manage RAM efficiently. Think of them as standardized containers for data that help the OS organize and access memory. For years, Android devices have predominantly used 4KB page sizes. This worked well for devices with limited RAM, but as smartphones evolved with more memory and processing power, larger page sizes became beneficial.

Why 16KB Pages?
The shift to 16KB pages isn't arbitrary.
Here's what the research shows:

Faster App Launches: Up to 30% improvement in cold start times
Better Memory Efficiency: Reduced memory fragmentation
Improved System Performance: Faster boot times and overall responsiveness
Enhanced Battery Life: More efficient memory management reduces CPU overhead

Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
1.Update Flutter SDK

# Check current version
flutter --version

# Update to latest stable
flutter upgrade

# Verify you're on the latest stable channel
flutter channel stable
flutter upgrade

Minimum recommended versions:

Flutter SDK: 3.16.0 or later
Dart SDK: 3.2.0 or later

2.Update Android Gradle Plugin (AGP)
In your android/build.gradle:

buildscript {
    ext.kotlin_version = '1.9.10'
    dependencies {
        // Update to AGP 8.5.0 or later
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:8.1.0'
        classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version"
    }
}

3.Update Android NDK
In android/app/build.gradle:

android {
    compileSdkVersion 35
    ndkVersion "28.x.xxxxxxx" 

    compileOptions {
        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
    }
}

4.Dependency Audit
Check if you have the latest versions of every dependency in the pubspec.yaml file

Critical Plugins to Check

Focus on these plugin categories:
Camera/Media: camera, image_picker, video_player
Database: sqflite, hive, objectbox
Networking: diowith native interceptors
Firebase: All Firebase plugins
Maps: google_maps_flutter
Payment: stripe_android, payment gateway SDKs

Navigating the Journey: Becoming a Mobile App Developer

Michael Otieno Olang — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:42:25 +0000

We'll embark on a journey together into the realm of mobile app development. In today's digital age, mobile applications have become an integral part of our daily lives, from communication and entertainment to productivity and commerce. If you've ever wondered what it takes to create these innovative tools that reside in our pockets, you're in the right place. In this guide, we'll explore the steps, tools, and resources you need to kickstart your career as a mobile app developer.

Understanding the Landscape:

Before diving into the technical aspects, it's crucial to grasp the landscape of mobile app development. Mobile platforms such as iOS and Android dominate the market, each with its own set of development tools, languages, and guidelines. Additionally, cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter offer the ability to build apps for multiple platforms using a single codebase. Understanding these options will help you chart your path forward.

Learning the Fundamentals:

As with any craft, mastering the fundamentals is essential for success. Start by familiarizing yourself with programming languages commonly used in mobile app development, such as Java, Kotlin, Swift, or Dart. Online platforms like Codecademy, Udemy, and Coursera offer comprehensive courses tailored to beginners.

Choosing Your Platform:

Once you've gained a solid understanding of programming fundamentals, it's time to choose your platform. Are you drawn to the sleek design and user experience of iOS apps, or do you prefer the flexibility and customization options of Android? Your decision will influence the tools and technologies you'll need to learn next.

Exploring Development Tools:

Equipped with a programming language and platform of choice, it's time to explore the development tools available to you. For iOS development, Xcode is the primary Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used by developers, while Android Studio is the go-to choice for Android development. Additionally, familiarize yourself with version control systems like Git, which are indispensable for collaborative development.

Mastering Mobile UI/UX Design:

In the competitive world of mobile apps, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design play a crucial role in determining the success of your app. Learn the principles of mobile UI/UX design, including navigation patterns, typography, and usability testing. Tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD can aid in prototyping and designing your app's interface.

Embracing Continuous Learning:

Mobile app development is a dynamic field that constantly evolves with new technologies and trends. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning by staying updated on the latest developments, attending conferences, and participating in online communities. Engage with fellow developers, seek mentorship, and don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas.

Building Your Portfolio:

As you gain proficiency in mobile app development, start building a portfolio of projects to showcase your skills to potential employers or clients. Whether it's a personal project, freelance work, or contributions to open-source projects, a strong portfolio demonstrates your capabilities and passion for the craft.

Excited to share insights on Android Development Testing!

Michael Otieno Olang — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 08:55:59 +0000

In the world of mobile app development, ensuring seamless user experiences is paramount. That's why Testing on Android development holds such crucial significance. 🛠️

Here are some key points I'd like to highlight:

1️⃣ Unit Testing: Building robust and reliable code starts here. Unit testing allows developers to test individual components in isolation, ensuring they function as expected.

2️⃣ Integration Testing: Assembling the pieces of your app? Integration testing ensures that these components work together seamlessly, catching any potential conflicts or issues.

3️⃣ UI Testing: Your app's interface is the user's gateway to functionality. UI testing verifies that each element behaves as intended, providing a smooth and intuitive experience.

4️⃣ Automation: Embracing automation accelerates testing cycles and enhances efficiency. Tools like Espresso and Robolectric streamline testing processes, enabling developers to focus more on innovation.

5️⃣ Device Fragmentation: Testing across various devices and OS versions is key to ensuring compatibility and performance consistency. Emulators and real-device testing help tackle this challenge effectively.

Incorporating these testing strategies into your Android development workflow not only enhances the quality of your app but also boosts user satisfaction and retention.

A Simple Dart Tutorial

Michael Otieno Olang — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:57:32 +0000

Dart Tutorial

Welcome to the Dart Tutorial! This tutorial is designed to help you get started with Dart programming. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, you'll find valuable information here to enhance your skills in Dart.

Dart Tutorial
Table of Contents
Introduction
Prerequisites
Getting Started
Topics Covered
Dart Basics
- 1. Hello, Dart!
- 2. Variables and Data Types
- 3. Control Flow
- 4. Functions
Contributing
Happy coding!

Introduction

Dart is a modern, open-source programming language developed by Google. It's known for its speed, efficiency, and ease of learning. Dart can be used for web, mobile, server, and desktop applications.

This tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to Dart, covering the basics and gradually progressing to more advanced concepts.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

Basic understanding of programming concepts
Code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA)
Dart SDK installed on your system

If you haven't installed Dart SDK yet, you can download it from the official Dart website.

Getting Started

To get started with Dart, follow these steps:

Install Dart SDK on your system.
Set up your development environment by configuring a code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code) for Dart.
Clone this repository`

Topics Covered

This tutorial covers the following topics:

Dart basics
Variables and data types
Control flow (if-else, switch, loops)
Functions and error handling

Feel free to explore the code and documentation for each topic in detail.

Dart Basics

1. Hello, Dart!

The traditional "Hello, World!" program in Dart:

dart void main() { print('Hello, Dart!'); }

2. Variables and Data Types

In Dart, you can declare variables using var, int, double, String, bool, and more. Example:
dart void main() { var name = 'John Doe'; // String int age = 30; // Integer double height = 6.2; // Double bool isStudent = true; // Boolean }
Dart is a statically typed language, meaning that variable types are known at compile time. However, you can use var to have Dart infer the type.

3. Control Flow

Dart supports common control flow structures like if, else, switch, and loops (for, while, do-while). Example:

`dart
void main() {
var age = 30;

if (age < 18) {
print('You are a minor.');
} else if (age >= 18 && age < 60) {
print('You are an adult.');
} else {
print('You are a senior citizen.');
}
}
`

4. Functions

Creating a simple function in Dart:

`dart
void main() {
print(greet('John Doe'));
}

String greet(String name) {
  return 'Hello, $name!';
}

`
Dart also supports anonymous functions (functions without a name) and arrow functions (functions with a single expression). Example:

`dart
void main() {
var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

// Anonymous function
numbers.forEach((number) {
print(number);
});

// Arrow function
numbers.forEach((number) => print(number));
}
`

Contributing

If you find any issues or have suggestions for improvement, please feel free to open an issue or create a pull request in my GitHub Repository. We welcome contributions from the community to make this tutorial even better!

To contribute, follow these steps:

Fork the repository.
Create a new branch for your contribution.
Make your changes and commit them.
Push the changes to your fork.
Open a pull request with a detailed description of your contribution.

Happy coding!

My Flutter Journey

Michael Otieno Olang — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:14:53 +0000

Flutter is a framework based on dart and developed by google for creating cross-platform applications. It can be used to create android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS, and Linux applications under one code base. It also uses Firebase as its back-end but you can also use the various back-end tech stacks for your back- end such as node js and many others.

I was introduced to flutter 4 months ago by a tech friend who by that time was using Kotlin to develop mobile applications, majorly android applications. We were to create our association's Mobile app within a week and he suggested that for ease and productivity we use the flutter framework for the app. We were both new to the framework but we really wanted to try out this new mobile development technique. We had downloaded a number of YouTube crash courses and some clone apps tutorials.

I never knew what I was doing, I never knew what was happening but I could only follow the YouTube tutor. After some two days, our UI was done and we presented the app as our project

I am still a beginner in the field but these are some of the advantages of Flutter I have noticed so far;

Flutter is easy to learn
Flutter has a great UI design which is simple to implement
Flutter uses widgets
Running Apps is relatively easy
Its beginner friendly

I would really advise you guys to try out Flutter
Thank you

Creating a simple Linked List In C programming

Michael Otieno Olang — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:00:57 +0000

Linked Lists are list of elements in which the various elements are linked together. Data in a linked list are stored in a linear manner. The Data are placed in nodes and the nodes are connected in a specific desired fashion.
Node is a container or a box which contains data and other information in it. In a list a node is connected to a different node forming a chain of nodes.
The first step in making a linked list is making a node which will store data into it.
C program for a Linked List
We first create a structure named node which stores an integer named data and a pointer named next to another structure (node).

struct node
{
    int data;
    struct node *next;
};

We then make two nodes (structure named node) and allocating space to them using the malloc function.

struct node *a, *b;
    a = malloc(sizeof(struct node));
    b = malloc(sizeof(struct node));

We then set the values of data of the nodes a and b.

    a->data = 10;
    b->data = 20;

We then store the address of b in the next variable of a. Thus, next of a is now storing the address of b or we can say the next of a is pointing to b.Since there is no node for the next of b, so we are making next of b null.

    a->next = b;
    b->next = NULL;

We then Print to see the output

printf("%d\n%d\n", a->data, a->next->data);

Below is the Combined Code

Shell Programming Using C Programming Language

Michael Otieno Olang — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:38:03 +0000

The following C_Program is used to append text from one file to the end of another file. Does any one have an Idea on how I can implement the code using the COMMANDLINE ARGUMENTS and the various FLAGS

A Must have Vs Code Extensions

Michael Otieno Olang — Sat, 28 May 2022 15:39:35 +0000

Gitlens
Better Comments
Prettier
ESLint If there are any,kindly add them comment sections.