You generally develop your apps on both the renowned platforms iOS and Android. This requires writing separate code for both of them. Many of the tools have cropped up to make cross-platform development a reality. Microsoft, Facebook, and Adobe gave it a great go. These solutions come with its own pluses and minuses.
Both the app owners and developers look for their own practices in the tool. Developers want an efficient and light pack to create high performing apps. On the other side, owners want it developed fast. Where developers want to enlarge their area of knowledge, owners want to advance on AOT development. Thus, Flutter’s here.
Released in February 2018, Google is boosting Flutter at different forums. To gain wide acceptance of the people, it was released at the Mobile World Congress.
What is Flutter?
Advanced Development kit for the making of apps for the iOS, Android and the new Google Fuchsia.
1. Open Source at No Cost.
2. Have its own widgets customizable.
3. pack relies on reactive programming
4. Dart programming language friendly
5. Rendering engine: C++
What happened till now?
The masterminds at Google have worked on Flutter for a long time to make it a piece of near perfection. They’ve:
1. Fixed lots and lots of bugs.
2. engineered on the kit to enhance execution.
3. provided support for inline video, development on Windows, Firebase APIs, ads and charts.
4. worked on expanding the reach universal.
5. worked on integrating VSC and Android Studio.
Where Flutter Gains a Hand?
2D mobile app support.
Full support for stock platform app development.
Splendid and creative designs.
Support for storage, camera, location, network and more.
Cross-platform framework
Flutter’s use in mobile app development
The current utility of Flutter is limited but rather niche.
Google developed an Adwords app with Flutter which helps advertisers track ad buys. Flutter made Alibaba app, the biggest e-com firm resembling China.
Many not-so-popular apps include Hamilton Broadway musical’s official app. It includes various features like lotteries, games, store, and videos. A meditation app Coach Yourself is Flutter’s build.
Flutter is a framework to streamline the development process and cut the time invested.
How does Flutter help?
The features of the cross-platform mobile app development framework:
1. Hot Reload
The changes made by the developers can be seen in an instant with Hot Reload. This feature is a super-handy for developers as it makes the changes visible right in the app itself. As the changes made are visible in a few seconds, the developers can fix bugs in a quick. The team can experiment with new features and improvise. This feature enables developers and designers to work hands-on on the app. they can manage the look of the app and can change in the way necessary.
2. Cross-Platform Development
CPD saves time, energy and money. With Flutter, you need to write the code once, maintain and can use that for two apps. The need has gone for developing a different code for a different platform. With Flutter, you can try developing for the Fuchsia platform which is a trial OS in process at Google.
3. Precise Idea of MVP
The development of two different apps would take a hefty amount of time and money. Instead, develop a mobile app in Flutter which looks the same as native in both iOS and Android. In this way, the investors would get a precise idea about the MVP you have.
4. Minimal Code
Flutter is made with Dart programming language. Dart uses JIT and AOT compilation which helps improves the overall startup time, functioning and accelerates the performance. JIT enhances the development system with the hot reload function. It refreshes the UI without putting in the effort to have a new build.
5. Widgets
In Flutter, the widgets are given an upper hand. Customizable and complex widgets loaded with features can be made in Flutter. It has all the sets of widgets from Material Design and Cupertino pack. Flutter provides a seamless experience in this case over and above all the other platforms.
6. Native Feel and Features
Flutter enables you to use your existing code Java, Obj-C and Swift to gain the key to native features which are platform specific. Camera and Geolocation are features connected with the use of native languages. Flutter gives you the convenience of working in the native language thus providing access to the native features of both iOS and Android.
7. Official support
The Material Design team is in on it all over. As Google is the initiator of Flutter, the reputation gains uppercut. Also, a full contribution of over 1000 developers helps Flutter grow.
The cost optimization with Flutter
A Flutter app developer makes the app in an average of 250 hours. Such an app will work on both iOS and Android. iOS developer takes an average of 400 hours and Android developer takes an average 250 hours. The cost would be known with the charge of your developer.
It is clear that the cost to develop on both the platforms is higher as well as it will take more time. If you’re willing to save time as well as money, Flutter is to be chosen as the best cross-platform app development framework.
We at Concetto Labs are currently working on an app we’re building with Flutter. We are Flutter app development company where you can Hire Flutter app developers.
*Important*: I’ve created a SLACK workspace for mobile developers where we can share our learnings about everything latest in Tech, especially in Android Development, RxJava, Kotlin, Flutter, and overall mobile development in general.
Click on this link to join the slack workspace. It’s absolutely free!
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