Your next app could be using Flutter, an open-source SDK and cross-platform mobile development framework from Google that allows you to develop apps in Dart programming language. The best part? You can take it from idea to release on iOS and Android devices with no additional learning curve required! In this article, we’ll dive into some of the top reasons why Flutter makes it easy to build highly responsive apps at high speed and how it stacks up against competing SDKs.
1| Same UI and Business Logic in All Platforms
Using Dart, you can write your UI and business logic once and compile it to native code for Android, iOS, Web (Desktop), PWA’s, and even Node. This makes development very simple because you’re writing in one language using one IDE throughout all aspects of development. I know what you’re thinking though, One language? Aren’t web apps slow? Fortunately, not with Flutter! The Hot Reload feature combined with stateful hot-reload gives great performance making app re-development almost instantaneous. With other cross-platform technologies like Xamarin or React Native there is still additional code needed to make it work properly on different platforms since they aren’t true native implementations.
2| Reduced Code Development Time
While coding in JavaScript, you have to support all of your code with tests. It takes a lot of time to code, test, and debug just about anything. And if you’re not doing TDD (Test-Driven Development), you’re wasting even more time debugging when something doesn’t work properly or does what it isn’t supposed to do. With Flutter, however, most of your development will come from simply declaring how your app should look like by adding widgets (Flutter’s version of UI controls). This dramatically reduces development time since there is little need to write actual code in order to create user interface elements; these are instead declared using an object model in JSON format.
3| Increased Time-to-Market Speed
When you’re under a lot of pressure to get new products and services out quickly, using technology like Flutter can help you increase your time-to-market speed. The web is an ever-changing space and if you want to stay relevant and competitive in today’s market, you need to be able to roll with the punches and adapt quickly. Using an open-source framework like Flutter will allow you to do just that. You can easily update your apps without major changes since widgets are based on Material Design standards (Google). Plus, with Flutter design tools (see #7 below), you can update your apps without any code changes — which is huge when resources are scarce.
4| Similar to Native App Performance
Similar to how React Native allows you to build apps as if you’re developing a native app, Flutter offers full-featured widgets with its Material Design and Cupertino frameworks. This gives your app a truly native look and feels without requiring developers to create two separate versions of their apps—one for iOS and one for Android. Additionally, cross-platform development using Dart can help create a consistent experience across all of your target platforms. For example, if you have an application that needs to be updated on both iOS and Android, you can use Dart to write shared code or features that operate similarly across both platforms. When writing in Dart code, even small changes will be reflected throughout your entire application due to its similarities between iOS and Android coding languages.
5| Custom, Animated UI of Any Complexity Available
While Google’s Material Design has changed things dramatically since its inception, one thing is still true about Android: you’re stuck with Java and XML if you want to achieve any kind of reasonable UI customization. One of Dart/Flutter’s killer features is its ease-of-use in developing custom, animated UI. Whether you need a floating action button or just something basic like the text on an ImageView, Flutter offers easy ways to create highly customized interfaces. The developer experience isn’t just better than other cross-platform tools—it also comes close to native app development in Android Studio.
6| Own Rendering Engine
Unlike most mobile frameworks, Flutter does not rely on Apple’s or Google’s rendering engine. This means that developers are free to create applications with beautiful user interfaces regardless of their prior experience. If you need to re-skin an application entirely to fit your brand, you can do so. It also gives you more power over how your app looks and feels at all times. You can design UI elements to be fluid or fixed width—whatever suits your needs best. It also makes it easier to test features without investing time in graphic design.
7| Simple Platform-Specific Logic Implementation
Writing platform-specific logic is easier in Flutter. Using separate Android and iOS libraries in native development can be a pain and reduce your productivity. With a flutter, you write platform-specific code in one place — but then run your app on both platforms simultaneously — making your workflow less complex and far more productive. Also, there’s no need to think about different screen sizes because flutter runs on exactly what you’re building it with (for example, if you want an iPhone app, you create an iPhone app; when you run your project on an Android device or simulator, your entire UI will appear as if it were running on an iPhone). With a flutter, every device displays the exact same UI elements.
8| The Potential Ability to Go Beyond Mobile
Similar to React Native, Flutter’s flexibility and compatibility with native code make it ideal for creating applications beyond just mobile. Many have claimed their apps are so good you would never know they were written in another language. This is an excellent advantage if you are hoping to use your app on both Android and iOS platforms without having to create separate apps entirely. The ability to write native code is also useful if you plan on selling your app, as users prefer knowing their information is being handled by a secure platform instead of being accessed by an unknown piece of software or the third-party server that could potentially be vulnerable.
| Conclusion
If you’re an app developer trying to make a name for yourself, we suggest you give Flutter a try. The framework is still relatively new and in beta testing, but its open-source, fast and innovative approach makes it a unique option that has yet to be replicated by its competitors. While it may not be ideal for every project and company, we think if you’re feeling risky or want to do something fresh and new on your next project, then flutter is worth exploring. If you are looking for a flutter developer there are many flutter development companies that can help in developing companies.
