Why You Should Choose Flutter for Mobile App Development

 

Hello guys. So after a while, I wanted to write a blog. I have done many blogs before. But I stopped them a long time ago. But I wanted to start a new blog again. After a while, this is my new blog article.

Today I hope to talk about Flutter. Many people probably know about Flutter. Some may not know. However, I do not expect to teach the technicalities of Flutter. For example, how to install Flutter, how to create a Flutter first project, how to create the first app with Flutter, I do not expect to teach such things. Because you can find those things on the internet. As I mentioned in the title above, I'm going to teach you what Flutter is and why you should choose it.

So what is Flutter? Why should you choose it as a mobile application developer?

First, let's see what are the types of mobile applications are.

1. Native Apps. These apps are specifically developed to run on an exact operating system or platform. They are produced using a programming language native to the chosen platform. For example, for Android it will be Kotlin or Java and for iOS — Swift or Objective-C.

2. Web Apps. These apps run on the web and are stored on remote servers. The problem with web apps is that they need an Internet connection to work since they are loaded from the web and not stored on the device itself. Also, they are rarely available on app stores, which makes them difficult to find.

3. Hybrid Cross-Platform Apps. Those are the curious type since they are the same web apps, but wrapped inside a native ‘shell’ using browser built-in components for each platform. This technique allows these apps to run on every platform as if they’re native to it. Such apps work better than web apps since they do not require an Internet connection and can be published on app stores.

4. Native Cross-Platform Apps. These are a combination of native and hybrid apps that have the benefits of both and provide native-like experiences.

Hey, wait a minute. Did you see the word cross-platform? So the flutter we are talking about belongs to the cross-platform category.

What exactly is Flutter?

Google is responsible for creating Flutter. It happens to be an open-source application development kit employed for cross-platform or hybrid mobile application development. This implies that the application created using Flutter can be run on various operating systems such as Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Mac, and the web making use of a single codebase.

Flutter had been introduced as a beta version known as “Sky” in the year 2015. In 2018, a Flutter stable version was launched by Google, which was known as Flutter 1.0. Following this, it began to become popular in mobile hybrid app development.

The most recent version of Flutter was released in 2019 in the form of Flutter 1.12. This particular version had been launched by resolving 5303 problems and 5970 pull requests from approximately 470 contributors across the globe.

Flutter 1.17 was launched in the year 2020. In this particular version, the iOS device’s performance improved, Metal API had been added along with network tracking tools. Developers make use of Dart, a programming language, for writing Flutter code.

What exactly is Dart?

This is a programming language that Google has created. It was used for developing web servers, mobile applications, as well as utilities for IoT gadgets. This language had been updated to Dart 2.8 from Dart 2.7. This updated version at present provides several advantages.

The code which was written in this language was compiled by making use of JavaScript. Writing code in Dart is almost identical to writing code in C# and Java.

Why would it be a good idea to invest in Flutter for mobile app development?

1. Cross-platform approach

It will be a sensible idea to make Flutter a cross-platform mobile application to reach the maximum number of users. Nevertheless, in the recent past, the user experience of hybrid mobile apps was not good. One significant reason for this is the fact that the developers must produce a UI experience in JavaScript. There comes Java, Kotlin, Objective -C, or Swift. This area has been hit very effectively by Flutter. It will provide you with the advantage of writing code only once while creating fantastic native apps with top-notch performance and cross-platform ability.

2. Save expenses

On most occasions, it is imperative to hire developers having respective skill sets while creating iOS and Android apps. This is quite expensive in the long run. On the contrary, since Flutter supports both iOS and Android, it will be possible to hire only one developer, which can be quite inexpensive. Consequently, create the Flutter application along with the core features and update afterward depending on client feedback. This will aid in saving time as well as money.

3. Ideal for creating MVP App

App development using Flutter leverages lots of innovative features. It happens to be a comprehensive framework that enables you to create platform-independent apps and which function on the web, mobile, and desktop technologies. Consequently, it will be possible to plan and also target the release of an app across every single platform in one go. This is appropriate for MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and beneficial for businesses that like to create these MVPs. This provides them with immense opportunities for market capitalization.

While using Flutter, you will be able to create top-notch applications that can be developed using widgets with a small team of professionals. Moreover, it is likewise budget-friendly.

4. High productivity is provided by the hot reload feature

It is the innovative hot reload feature of Flutter, which is responsible for productivity improvement. A Flutter mobile application developer can detect any change almost instantaneously, and the structure of the app changes within 10 seconds. Consequently, you will be able to see the modifications while you are making them. A Flutter developer can frame UIs and hold errors quicker. The changes made are almost instantaneous, which will reduce the reload time and additional time on emulators, simulators, and hardware for Android and iOS platforms.

5. Portability

Apart from being a framework, Flutter is likewise a comprehensive SDK that will be able to run on any device having a screen. Consequently, you will be able to run Flutter applications on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux along with third-party ports. It will be feasible to include keyboard and mouse input functions, embedding APIs, and different plug-ins. considering the preference of Google for IoT gadgets, it can be expected that this functionality will get official in the upcoming days.

6. The open-source package helps to make development quite simple

Flutter happens to be open-source, which helps to develop the app at a quicker speed. You will come across plenty of additional packages, which helps make the task quite manageable in the long run. Similar to other open-source projects, this package library goes on developing by leaps and bounds. Moreover, it should be mentioned here that the credit should be given to the experienced developers who happen to be contributing continuously to the Flutter community. Furthermore, these multiple packages will help to grow the all-encompassing technical community as well.

7. Only one codebase

Only one version of the app will be running for Android and iOS platforms when it comes to Flutter development. This is referred to as a single codebase. As a result, the developers and designers will be focusing only on creating just a single codebase for both of these platforms.

8. The usage of Dart

Flutter makes use of Dart, an object-oriented programming language. It offers several innovative features such as garbage collection, robust typing, the standard library, generics, etc.

9. Making use of customizable widgets

The developers are provided an option of using widgets by Flutter according to their requirements. Here, everything that the developer’s design happens to be a widget and making UI. Apart from this, another useful addition is the layout which aids in defining the position, size, and state of the widgets.

10. Robust design experience

Flutter provides different themes for iOS and Android apps. Apart from varying in color, the themes likewise differ in style and size. A trusted platform has been built by it for extraordinary UIs, and the applications serve various domains such as entertainment, education, e-commerce, utility, social, fitness, and health.

11. Simpler animations

Flutter adds the flexibility of API for including animations. Even a small code while using Flutter will allow you to include easy as well as expressive animations

12. Native themes for Android/iOS

The quest of application development has been made quite streamlined by Flutter using local codes, platform APIs, and third-party incorporations.

13. IDEs are supported by Flutter

In case Flutter development is selected by you, you will be choosing from lots of IDEs. It will be a sensible idea to initially commence with Android Studio, and then you can move to Visual Code, which is fast and light.

So I hope this article will help you. So I will come soon with another article. Thank you!