Flutter is an open-source software development kit that makes creating cross-platform mobile apps simple and painless. You can easily create high-quality natively built apps for iOS and Android without having to write separate code for each platform. All you need for both systems is a single codebase.
Flutter’s product manager, Tim Sneath, claimed last year that the toolkit has been used by over 2 million developers since its introduction in 2018. The spring release also demonstrates that not just consumer but also business app development is on the upswing.
We will introduce this developer-friendly app development language in this article. We’ll go through what Flutter is and what its pros and downsides are.
What exactly is Flutter?
Building applications was expensive back when Objective C/Swift and Java/Kotlin were the dominant languages for mobile development. You had to create two distinct applications, which meant that you had to complete the job twice.
To address this issue, numerous frameworks for creating hybrid (or cross-platform) apps in HTML5 and Javascript have been developed. The Flutter framework has swiftly gained popularity among developers, companies, entrepreneurs, and users among cross-platform toolkits such as Phonegap, Xamarin, React Native, and others.
Flutter is a cross-platform UI toolkit that allows you to create native-like apps for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. It employs the Dart programming language, as well as Material Design and Cupertino widgets. Flutter programmers can design stunning user interfaces that look and feel native. Even if you’re utilizing the same codebase across all platforms, it functions organically.
Flutter is the only framework with a mobile SDK that supports responsive design without the use of a Javascript bridge, allowing it to compete with its cousin and direct competitor React Native in terms of speed. It works well with a variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, Linux, MAC, Windows, and Google Fuchsia apps.
What is the purpose of Flutter?
Flutter is one of the greatest ways to create apps for Android and iOS without having to write code for each platform separately. These programs’ smartphone versions work as full native apps for Apple and Android smartphones and are built specifically for each platform before being released. They don’t require a browser or a runtime module. It is also feasible to construct web apps for browsers as well as native programs for Windows, Linux, and macOS using the same codebase.
Flutter is used by Google for a number of Google Assistant modules as well as the Google Home hub’s user interface. Flutter is used by well-known e-commerce service providers like eBay, Groupon, and Alibaba Group to provide their mobile and web apps a consistent aesthetic.
Flutter is written in what programming language?
The Dart programming language, which was also created by Google, forms the foundation for the Flutter SDK. Its goal is to make JavaScript obsolete. Dart applications can be executed directly on a server, but they must be translated to JavaScript in the browser using the Dart2js transcompiler.
Dart is used to create apps for Google’s upcoming Fuchsia platform. It has a similar structure to well-known object-oriented programming languages like Java or C#.
The Flutter Principle: It’s All Widgets
Flutter is a technology that is built on widgets. This means that object-oriented programming may be used on any element. One of the advantages of Flutter is the simplicity with which you may edit or customize widgets. It also includes UI widgets that fulfill important web application design criteria.
Since its inception, Flutter has garnered a large and active community of developers as an open-source framework. This community is continually publishing useful code samples and assisting developers in the creation of new, unique, and visually appealing cross-platform programs.
Flutter app development advantages and disadvantages
Every programming language has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, in most circumstances, we can state that Flutter’s benefits easily surpass its drawbacks when compared to similar technologies.
Flutter app development advantages
Over its competitors, Flutter has a number of benefits. These benefits are built into the programming language and set of development tools, allowing Flutter to address problems that other languages can’t.
1. There is a single codebase for all platforms.
Gone are the days when you had to develop separate code for Android and iOS devices. Flutter’s code reusability allows you to develop a single codebase that can be used not only on Android and iOS, but also on the web, desktop, and other platforms. This drastically reduces development time, eliminates costs, and allows you to publish your product much more quickly.
2. The notion of “It’s all Widgets” opens up a world of possibilities.
When it comes to designing beautiful aesthetics for your app, Flutter’s custom widgets are a dream come true. You don’t have to worry about the UI on multiple devices at the same time.
3. Extensive library
Flutter makes use of the Skia Graphics Package, an open-source graphics library that is both fast and stable. Every time a view changes, the UI is redrawn. What’s the end result? The program loads quickly and runs smoothly.
4. Rapid testing and reloading
The hot reload functionality speeds up the app development process. There’s no need to restart the app to view every change you make in the code using Flutter. You may simply make changes in real time to your app, giving you additional opportunities to experiment with the code and correct errors while on the road.
Flutter app development has certain drawbacks.
Flutter is no exception to the rule that no technological solution is perfect. Flutter’s drawbacks aren’t fatal, but there are a few reasons why it might not be the best toolkit for a particular app.
1. Due to the widgets, the file size is large.
To begin with, Flutter apps are fairly big and “heavy.” They take up a lot of room and take a long time to download or update.
2. Updates that are difficult
Upgrading operating system programming requirements necessitates updating Flutter modules. Because the modules are permanent aspects of the software, it must be recompiled and reloaded on the devices as well.
3. Tools and libraries are restricted in scope.
In some circumstances, you may not be able to find the needed functions in the current library of the Flutter development framework. Some tools, functionality, and community development will take a while to implement in Flutter.
