Feature-First vs Clean Architecture — Which One Scales With Your Team
In FlutterInit, Feature-First and Clean share feature folders today. Choose based on team mental model and docs — not imaginary file trees.
Feature-First vs Clean is the question every Flutter team argues about. In FlutterInit both options generate lib/src/features/... with data/domain/presentation under auth. The scalable choice is about how your team talks and what AGENTS.md enforces, not a secret third folder layout.
Side-by-side
| Feature-First | Clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical tree (FlutterInit) | lib/src/features/{feature}/… | Same shape today |
| Default mental model | “Ship a feature slice” | “Protect domain from frameworks” |
| Wizard default | Feature-First is the product default | Opt in when you want the Clean label |
| Best paired guides | Riverpod + Feature-First + Supabase | Clean generated, Riverpod + Clean + Firebase |
What actually scales with your team
Small team (1–3): Feature-First. Less naming ceremony. Same escape hatches when a feature needs a repository interface.
Larger team / regulated domain: Lean Clean in language and reviews — domain interfaces, no SDK imports in entities — even if folders look familiar.
Agents: Both get architecture rules in AGENTS.md. Wrong choice is letting Cursor invent a third layout.
MVVM is the other fork
If you want data + ui without feature packages, use MVVM instead of this debate.
Decision rule
If your PR template already says “don’t import Firebase in widgets,” you’re doing Clean. If your board says “finish the billing feature folder,” you’re Feature-First. FlutterInit supports both labels — pick the one your team will enforce.
Generate either on /create.
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FlutterInit scaffolds the entire structure described in this guide — wired up, typed, and ready for flutter run.