Connect Flask Backend to Flutter Application

[kxs1119]

Description:

• Set up the integration between the Flask backend and the Flutter app to fetch and display real-time data.
• The initial focus will be connecting to the API and retrieving data, which will replace the mock data currently used in the app.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Create a service in lib/services/DeerService.dart that handles API requests to the Flask backend.
• Ensure that the API data is successfully fetched and replaces the mock data in DeerListScreen.dart.
• The app should dynamically update the list view when new data is fetched.
• Proper error handling in case the API request fails (e.g., showing an error message in the UI).
• Test the connection to ensure the app retrieves the data from the Flask backend using GET requests.
• Confirm hot reload still works after integration to allow instant UI updates.

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Steps to Implement:

1. Set Up the Service Layer:

   • Create a service file (DeerService.dart) responsible for making HTTP requests to the Flask backend.
   • Use Flutter’s built-in http package to handle these requests.

2. Fetching Data:

   • Retrieve deer location data from the Flask API endpoint using a GET request.
   • Parse the response and pass the data to the UI.

3. Replace Mock Data:

   • Ensure that the current mock data in DeerListScreen.dart is replaced by the real API data fetched from Flask.
   • Ensure the list updates dynamically when the API provides new data.

4. Error Handling:

   • Add error handling to display an appropriate message if the API call fails.
   • Handle edge cases, such as network issues or invalid responses.

5. Testing:

   • Test the Flask API connection to confirm data is fetched successfully.
   • Ensure that hot reload remains functional during development.