Cometchat Flutter V5

Ground truth: cometchat_chat_uikit: ^5.2 (legacy/maintenance-only; calls via raw cometchat_calls_sdk ^5.0.2) — pub-cache source + ui-kit/flutter/v5. Official docs: https://www.cometchat.com/docs/ui-kit/flutter/v5/overview · Docs MCP: claude mcp add --transport http cometchat-docs https://www.cometchat.com/docs/mcp (or fetch the URL directly without MCP). Verify symbols against the installed package/source before relying on them.

CometChat Flutter UIKit v5 — Orchestrator

Entry point skill for the CometChat UIKit v5 packages. Routes to feature skills based on context.

Project Detection

Confirm the project uses CometChat UIKit v5 by checking pubspec.yaml for:

dependencies:
  cometchat_chat_uikit: ^5.2.14
  cometchat_calls_uikit: ^5.0.15  # part of the v5 kit family — but NOT the calls path (see note)

⚠️ Voice/video calling does NOT use cometchat_calls_uikit. Its prebuilt call widgets are 4.x-bound (it transitively pins cometchat_calls_sdk ^4.2.2). Per the product policy that all families use the V5 calls SDK, Flutter V5 calling integrates the raw cometchat_calls_sdk ^5.0.2 with a custom call surface — load cometchat-flutter-v5-calls. Do not add cometchat_calls_uikit for calls.

The v5 uses separate packages (unlike v6 which bundles everything):

• cometchat_chat_uikit — Chat UI components
• cometchat_calls_uikit — Call UI components (re-exports cometchat_uikit_shared + cometchat_sdk + cometchat_calls_sdk; does NOT re-export cometchat_chat_uikit)
• cometchat_uikit_shared — Shared utilities

Imports — two barrels, not one. For chat-only apps, the chat barrel is sufficient. If you also need voice/video calls, add a SECOND import — the calls barrel does NOT re-export the chat barrel.

// Always:
import 'package:cometchat_chat_uikit/cometchat_chat_uikit.dart';

// Add this only if your app uses calls:
import 'package:cometchat_calls_uikit/cometchat_calls_uikit.dart';

Key v5 vs v6 Differences

Skill Routing

Architecture Overview

The UIKit v5 follows a GetX controller pattern:

{component}/
├── cometchat_{component}.dart              # StatefulWidget
├── cometchat_{component}_controller.dart   # extends GetxController
├── cometchat_{component}_style.dart        # ThemeExtension with merge()
└── {component}_builder_protocol.dart       # Request builder protocol

Golden Path — Minimal Chat App (v5)

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:cometchat_chat_uikit/cometchat_chat_uikit.dart';
// Add the calls import only if your app uses voice/video calls:
// import 'package:cometchat_calls_uikit/cometchat_calls_uikit.dart';

const String appId = 'YOUR_APP_ID';
const String region = 'us';
const String authKey = 'YOUR_AUTH_KEY';

void main() => runApp(const MyApp());

class MyApp extends StatefulWidget {
  const MyApp({super.key});
  @override
  State<MyApp> createState() => _MyAppState();
}

class _MyAppState extends State<MyApp> {
  bool _initializing = true;
  bool _loggedIn = false;

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
    _initCometChat();
  }

  void _initCometChat() {
    final settings = (UIKitSettingsBuilder()
          ..appId = appId
          ..region = region
          ..authKey = authKey
          ..subscriptionType = CometChatSubscriptionType.allUsers)
        .build();
    // For voice/video calls, also `import cometchat_calls_uikit` and add
    //   ..callingExtension = CometChatCallingExtension()
    // to the builder above (see cometchat-flutter-v5-calls).

    CometChatUIKit.init(
      uiKitSettings: settings,
      onSuccess: (_) {
        setState(() {
          _loggedIn = CometChatUIKit.loggedInUser != null;
          _initializing = false;
        });
      },
      onError: (e) {
        debugPrint('Init failed: ${e.message}');
        setState(() => _initializing = false);
      },
    );
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      navigatorKey: CallNavigationContext.navigatorKey,
      home: _initializing
          ? const Scaffold(body: Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()))
          : _loggedIn
              ? HomeScreen()
              : LoginScreen(),
    );
  }
}

Key points:

• Always import package:cometchat_chat_uikit/cometchat_chat_uikit.dart for chat widgets; add package:cometchat_calls_uikit/cometchat_calls_uikit.dart as a second import only when using calls
• CometChatUIKit.login(uid) takes a String directly
• CallNavigationContext.navigatorKey set on MaterialApp
• CometChatCallingExtension() set on UIKitSettingsBuilder
• subscriptionType always set

Autonomous Mode

• If pubspec.yaml has cometchat_chat_uikit v5.x or cometchat_calls_uikit v5.x → proceed without asking
• If credentials exist in code → reuse them
• If user says "messages screen" → generate Scaffold + Header + List + Composer
• Always add subscriptionType to UIKitSettingsBuilder
• Always use CometChatThemeHelper for colors, never hardcode
• Always import from cometchat_chat_uikit barrel for chat widgets. Add cometchat_calls_uikit as a SECOND import for calls — never as a replacement (the calls barrel does not re-export chat).

Android Build Requirements

• android.useAndroidX=true and android.enableJetifier=true in gradle.properties
• minSdk 26 in android/app/build.gradle
• ProGuard: -keep class com.cometchat.** { *; }