What is Flutter?

In the last few years, the global app development landscape has transformed dramatically. With the rise of technology and the widespread availability of smartphones, startups across the world have increasingly turned to mobile apps to connect with users and clients. The app market has grown significantly and is projected to continue expanding rapidly in the coming decade. This surge has also driven demand for skilled app developers, providing countless opportunities for those in the field.

To keep pace with the shift towards mobile apps, extensive research and development have been dedicated to simplifying and accelerating the app development process. Mobile apps can generally be categorised into two main types:

iOS Apps

iOS apps are designed for Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads. These apps are typically built using the Swift programming language and have an extension of .ipa.

Android Apps

Android apps, on the other hand, are made for devices running on the Android operating system. These apps are usually developed using Java or Kotlin, with an extension of .apk.

For developers tasked with creating apps for both iOS and Android platforms, the process can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Some of the major challenges faced by companies and developers include:

No Cross-Platform Dependency: iOS and Android apps operate differently, requiring developers to redesign and reconfigure the same content for each platform.

Time Constraints: Developing a professional app—from coding to design—takes time. Companies often impose tight deadlines, which can lead to decreased efficiency and quality when developers work on both platforms.

Increased Workforce Needs: Companies often need to hire more developers with expertise in each platform, driving up costs.

Higher Development Costs: Developing apps for both platforms separately increases the overall cost of development.

Since the launch of Flutter in May 2017, many of these challenges have been addressed. Flutter is a powerful tool backed by the Dart language and features a mobile framework that supports both iOS and Android applications. It comes with a graphics library, material design, and Cupertino design, allowing for faster app operations and a visually appealing user interface, regardless of the operating platform.

Why is Flutter a Boon for Startups and Companies?

For startups and companies, the primary goal is to acquire more customers. For app-based startups, user acquisition across platforms—iOS and Android—is crucial. Companies often face the dilemma of choosing between native apps, which require separate development for each platform, or cross-platform apps, which can operate on multiple platforms with a single codebase. This is where Flutter comes into play.

Features of Flutter

Flutter offers developers a range of features, including:

Modern and Reactive Framework
Utilizes Dart Programming Language: Dart is easy to learn and supports fast development.
Beautiful and Fluid UIs: Flutter allows for the creation of visually stunning and responsive user interfaces.
Extensive Widget Library: A vast selection of customizable widgets is available.
Consistent UI Across Platforms: Flutter enables the same UI to run on multiple platforms.
High-Performance Applications: Apps built with Flutter are optimized for performance.
Easy Backend Integration: Flutter simplifies backend connections and asynchronous operations.

Advantages of Flutter

Cross-Platform Operations: Apps developed with Flutter can run on both iOS and Android without the need for reconfiguration.
Reduced Developer Requirements: Companies can reduce their developer workforce since a single codebase works across multiple platforms.
Lower Development Costs: Fewer developers mean lower costs.
Time Efficiency: Flutter accelerates the development process, reducing the time needed to bring an app to market.
Powerful Design: Flutter’s modern mobile framework allows for powerful app designs with minimal effort.

Flutter also offers a range of customisable widgets for high-performance mobile applications. It meets all custom requirements and continues to evolve, offering additional benefits such as:

Dart’s Extensive Programming Packages: Dart’s large repository of packages expands app capabilities.
Single Code Base for Both Platforms: Developers write one codebase for both iOS and Android, with potential future extensions to other platforms.
Reduced Testing Requirements: A single codebase means automated tests need only be written once for both platforms.
Fast Development Cycles: Flutter’s simplicity and customization options make it ideal for rapid development.
Control Over Widgets and Layout: Developers have full control over the design and layout of widgets.
Hot Reload Feature: Flutter’s hot reload allows developers to see changes instantly, speeding up the development process.

Disadvantages of Flutter

Despite its many advantages, Flutter does have some drawbacks:

Performance on Older Devices: Apps built with Flutter may run slower on older devices, as the code interpreter is optimized for native code on newer hardware.
Non-Native Feel: Cross-platform apps developed with Flutter may not have the same native feel as apps specifically designed for a single platform.
Learning Curve for Dart Language: Although Dart is easy to learn, developers must familiarize themselves with a new programming language.
Intermixed UI and Logic: While modern frameworks aim to separate UI and logic as much as possible, Flutter’s structure may intermingle them. However, this can be mitigated with smart coding practices and the use of high-level modules.

Industry Adoption of Flutter

Despite these disadvantages, many companies have adopted Flutter for app development, leading to a growing demand for developers skilled in this framework. Companies like Alibaba, Geek Ants, Tencent, ByteDance, and BMW have integrated Flutter into their development processes. For developers looking to enter the app development industry, learning Flutter is becoming increasingly important, as the demand for native app developers is expected to decline in the coming years.

Conclusion

Flutter has emerged as a game-changer in the app development industry. Its ability to simplify cross-platform development, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market makes it an essential tool for startups and companies alike. As the industry continues to evolve, developers proficient in Flutter will be well-positioned to succeed in the competitive app development landscape.