This is a talk from the Full Stack Flutter conference held in May 2024.
fullstackflutter.dev/

There is no doubt that a custom backend is the most secure and flexible option for your app. It is also the most time and resource-consuming option, but time and resources are what a lot of indie devs and side-project builders lack. So, does it mean that we have to compromise on security, functionality, and performance if we don’t have a custom backend?

Thanks to Backend-As-a-Service (BaaS) providers such as Firebase, the answer is no. With advanced services such as Cloud Functions, Firebase Extensions, AppCheck, Performance Monitoring, and Automated Tester, developers who lack the resources of a full team can build robust and resilient solutions.

To showcase how it all works together, I will walk you through building NativePal - an AI-powered language learning app. We will learn how to work with OpenAI’s GPT APIs in a secure manner with the help of Firebase services.

By the end of this talk, you will have a roadmap on how to build your own side project without compromising security and functionality, yet without requiring a fully custom backend. You will also gain insights on working with GPT APIs in order to add AI functionality to your app.

About the speaker
I'm an experienced Flutter developer, focused on creating my own apps, such as Bunny Search, an app to find cruelty-free brands, and NativePal, an AI-powered language learning app. Before going indie, I've worked in outsourcing agencies, creating apps in various domains for clients for 8+ years. An active community member: GDE in Flutter & Dart, WTM Ambassador, Flutterista and Flutter Riga organizer. I'm a technical writer, speaker & mentor. If I'm not writing code or participating in some Flutter meetup, you can usually find me reading a book or petting a stray cat :)