DhiWise: Figma-to-Code AI Tool - Technical Intelligence Summary
Core Functionality
Tool Type: Figma design to Flutter/React code converter with AI assistance
Success Rate: 80% UI conversion accuracy for standard patterns
Primary Use Case: MVP development and UI boilerplate generation
Critical Technical Limitations
State Management Lock-in
- Flutter projects force GetX architecture - non-negotiable
- Alternative state management (Bloc, Provider, Riverpod) requires complete refactoring
- Every screen gets GetX controller, navigation uses
Get.to()
, dependency injection viaGet.put()
- Impact: Teams using different Flutter patterns face significant rework
Code Quality Issues
- Authentication handling is fundamentally broken
- Generic error handling:
catch (e) { throw Exception('Something went wrong'); }
- No proper HTTP status codes (401, 403) - just generic exceptions
- Basic token storage via
GetStorage
, minimal refresh token logic - Auth interceptor shows "Something went wrong" instead of redirecting to login
- Generic error handling:
- API error handling is production-unusable
- All API calls use same generic error message
- No retry logic or request deduplication in Dio interceptors
- No specific error types for different failure scenarios
Performance Bottlenecks
- Bundle size bloat: Apps start 12-15MB, can reach 45MB due to unnecessary dependencies
- No performance optimizations included:
- No lazy loading implementation
- No image caching
- No background task handling
- No code splitting for large applications
- Minimal loading states: Basic spinners only, no skeleton screens or progress indicators
- Basic accessibility: Semantic labels exist but no screen reader optimization, focus management, or keyboard navigation
Technical Specifications
Supported Frameworks
Framework | Output Quality | Key Issues |
---|---|---|
Flutter | 80% success rate | Forced GetX architecture, platform-specific issues |
React | Functional components with hooks | CSS modules only (no styled-components/Tailwind) |
React Native | Standard mobile patterns | Limited to basic UI conversion |
Next.js | Modern patterns | Opinionated component structure |
Platform-Specific Failures
- iOS: Missing
Info.plist
entries for permissions (camera, location, notifications) - Android: Runtime permissions setup included but iOS requires manual fixes
- Responsive Design: Fixed breakpoints (768px, 1024px) don't match custom design systems
Resource Requirements
Time Investment
- Initial generation: 20 minutes (up to 1 hour during server issues)
- Getting functional UI: 2 hours to 2 days (depends on Figma file organization)
- Production-ready code: Same time as traditional development for business logic
- Debugging generated code: Significantly longer due to unfamiliar patterns
Skill Requirements
- Must learn DhiWise's file organization and naming conventions
- GetX proficiency required for Flutter projects
- Understanding of generated architecture patterns for maintenance
Pricing Structure
- Free tier: Unlimited app creation, no code export (effectively useless)
- Pro tier: $149/year for 30 screens, code export, team collaboration
- Enterprise: 1000+ screens with custom AI training
Critical Warnings
Production Readiness Reality
- "Production-ready" is marketing fiction
- Generated code compiles but lacks:
- Proper error handling
- Loading states
- Accessibility features
- Performance optimizations
- Security best practices
Breaking Points
- Figma file quality directly impacts output quality
- Emojis in layer names break the system
- Poor grouping and inconsistent naming produce garbage output
- Clean design structure is essential for usable results
Debugging Nightmare Scenarios
- Generated code debugging is exponentially harder
- Following unfamiliar patterns slows troubleshooting
- Generic error messages provide no debugging context
- No stack traces for common failures
When Tool Actually Provides Value
Optimal Use Cases
- MVP development where UI fidelity > architecture quality
- Prototyping complex interfaces before proper implementation
- CRUD applications with standard patterns (forms, lists, detail views)
- Learning Flutter from web development background (learn proper patterns afterward)
Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Saves time on: UI boilerplate, responsive CSS writing, component scaffolding
- Costs time on: Architecture refactoring, debugging generated code, learning DhiWise patterns
- Break-even point: Projects with substantial UI work and tolerance for technical debt
Integration Reality
Backend Integration Limitations
- Supabase: Basic auth flows only (email/password), manual implementation required for social auth
- Stripe: Starter payment forms, no subscription handling/webhooks/error scenarios
- Firebase: Basic setup, no real-time subscriptions or RLS policies
Development Workflow Impact
- GitHub sync: Creates new branches with "DhiWise" prefixes every time
- Merge conflicts: Manual management required
- CI/CD: Generated code works with existing pipelines but may need modifications
Competitive Analysis
Tool | Annual Cost | Primary Strength | Critical Weakness | Best Use Case |
---|---|---|---|---|
DhiWise | $149 | Figma-to-code conversion (80% accuracy) | GetX lock-in, poor error handling | Rapid prototyping with UI priority |
Retool | $120 | Admin panels, internal tools | Identical-looking dashboards, poor performance at scale | Internal tools acceptance of 2015 aesthetics |
Firebase | Variable (expensive at scale) | Real-time features, working auth | Vendor lock-in, cost escalation | Real-time apps with Google dependency acceptance |
FlutterFlow | Similar to DhiWise | Better state management options, intuitive UI builder | Less AI assistance | Visual Flutter development without GetX |
Decision Criteria
Choose DhiWise When:
- UI boilerplate reduction is primary goal
- GetX architecture is acceptable
- MVP timeline is critical
- Team can handle generated code maintenance
Avoid DhiWise When:
- Production-quality architecture is required
- Custom state management patterns are mandated
- Complex business logic is primary development effort
- Team lacks capacity for generated code debugging
Technical Migration Considerations
Generated Code Modification Strategy
- Understand DhiWise patterns first - file organization, naming conventions
- Plan architecture refactoring if GetX incompatible with team standards
- Implement proper error handling as immediate priority
- Add performance optimizations before production deployment
- Enhance accessibility for compliance requirements
Risk Mitigation
- Plan for 2-3x debugging time for generated code issues
- Budget additional development time for production hardening
- Establish code review processes for generated output quality
- Maintain fallback plan for manual implementation if generation fails
Useful Links for Further Investigation
My DhiWise Bookmark Collection (After 6 Months of Pain)
Link | Description |
---|---|
DhiWise Platform | The main thing, obviously. This is where you build stuff. Interface is decent, doesn't crash every 5 minutes like some competitors. |
Official Docs | Worth reading (mostly). API references and setup guides. Some sections are outdated - the React examples still show class components like it's 2018. |
Pricing | $149/year for Pro, which you'll need. Free tier is useless unless you enjoy building apps you can't download. |
VS Code Setup | The extension is hit-or-miss but beats downloading zip files constantly. Sometimes works. |
Flutter Docs | Essential if you want to understand their GetX obsession and file structure. |
GitHub Actions Guide | CI/CD setup. Useful when the generated code doesn't completely break your deployment pipeline. |
Their Blog | Half tutorials, half product demos. Sometimes has useful guides buried under the marketing crap. |
For updates I guess. Standard startup Twitter. Nothing revolutionary. | |
Retool | For admin panels that don't suck. Different use case but builds internal dashboards that actually look professional. |
Firebase | When you need real backend. Google's platform. Expensive but works for real-time features and auth that doesn't break. |
Vercel | Deployment that doesn't hate you. $240/year is stupid expensive but their deployment pipeline actually works. |
Privacy Policy | Standard "we might look at your data" legalese, outlining how user information is collected, used, and protected by the platform. |
Security Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR stuff. Required reading for enterprise deals. |
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