What are the differences between MVVM and MVI architectures and which one would you prefer for a highly interactive Android app, and why?

In my final year of college, I worked on a group project where we developed a mobile app for managing student tasks. We chose the MVVM architecture because it allowed us to separate the UI logic from the business logic effectively. The ViewModel acted as a bridge, providing data to the UI while observing changes in the model. This setup made it easier for our team to collaborate, as we could work on different components without stepping on each other's toes. We also utilized LiveData to update the UI automatically when data changed, which was vital for our app's interactivity. The result was a user-friendly app that helped students track their assignments and deadlines efficiently.

During my time volunteering for a local non-profit, I helped design a community engagement app using the MVI architecture. We focused on user interactions, and MVI’s unidirectional data flow helped us manage state changes effectively. Each user action transformed the intent into a new state, which made it easier to debug and maintain the app. For instance, when users signed up for events, we could clearly see how that action affected the UI and the underlying data model. This clarity improved the overall user experience, as the app responded quickly and predictably to user inputs, encouraging more community participation.

In my first job as a junior Android developer, I worked on a highly interactive shopping app where we primarily used MVVM. The app needed to reflect real-time updates as users interacted with it, like adding items to their carts or applying discounts. I appreciated how MVVM allowed us to keep the UI reactive, with the ViewModel providing live updates. This architecture was particularly beneficial when we integrated features like real-time inventory management, ensuring users always had the most up-to-date information. By leveraging MVVM, we created an engaging shopping experience that kept users coming back.