why flutter for development

Flutter is an open-source software development kit which enables smooth and easy cross-platform mobile app development. You can build high quality natively compiled apps for iOS and Android quickly, without having to write the code for the two apps separately. All you need is one codebase for both platforms.

Flutter's product manager, Tim Sneath, claimed last year that the toolkit has been used by over 2 million developers since its release in 2018. The spring release also demonstrates that not only consumer but also enterprise 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 advantages and disadvantages are.

What is Flutter?
Building apps was expensive back when Objective C/Swift and Java/Kotlin were the dominant languages for mobile development. You had to create two distinct apps, which meant that you had to do the work 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 fast gained popularity among developers, enterprises, 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 create stunning user interfaces that look and feel native. Even if you're utilizing the same codebase across all platforms, it functions smoothly.

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 performance. It works well with a variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, Linux, MAC, Windows, and Google Fuchsia apps.

What is Flutter used for?

Flutter is one of the greatest ways to create apps for Android and iOS without having to write code for each platform separately. These apps' 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 give their mobile and web apps a consistent aesthetic.

What programming language is Flutter based on?

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 run directly on a server, but they must be translated to JavaScript in the browser using the Dart2js transcompiler.

Dart is used to develop apps for Google's upcoming Fuchsia platform. It has a similar structure to well-known object-oriented programming languages like Java or C#.

FingTech™ has developed multiple apps in Flutter over the past 18 months. We have built excellent social media apps, service booking apps, productivity measurement apps, utility apps, product distribution apps and healthcare apps, all using Flutter. Despite the relatively short existence of the technology, we are accomplished exponents!

Flutter Principle: It's All Widgets

Flutter is a technology that is built on widgets. This means that object-oriented programming can be used on any element. One of the advantages of adopting Flutter is the simplicity with which you can edit or customize widgets. It also includes UI widgets that meet important web application design criteria.

Since its release, 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.

 

Pros and cons of Flutter app development

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.

Pros of Flutter app development

Over its competitors, Flutter has a number of advantages. These benefits are built into the programming language and set of development tools, allowing Flutter to address problems that other languages can't.

1. One 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. “It’s all Widgets” principle offers countless 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 different 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 feature speeds up the app development process. There's no need to restart the app to see every change you make in the code using Flutter. You may simply make changes in real time to your app, giving you more opportunities to experiment with the code and correct errors while on the go.

Cons of Flutter app development

Flutter is no exception to the rule that no technology 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. Because of the widgets, the file size is large.
   To begin with, Flutter apps are fairly large and "heavy." They take up a lot of room and take a long time to download or update.
   
   
2. Updates that are difficult
   Updating operating system programming requirements necessitates updating Flutter modules. Because the modules are fixed aspects of the program, it must be recompiled and reloaded on the devices as well.
3. Tools and libraries are limited.
   Because Flutter is a relatively new programming framework, you may not be able to find the functionalities you need in the present library. It will take some time for Flutter to develop key tools, extend functionality, and build a community.

Apps developed on Flutter

Flutter app development is becoming increasingly popular. Flutter is now widely used to construct apps for firms such as Alibaba, Yandex, Airbnb, Uber, eBay, and others. The following is a list of the best Flutter apps.