Flutter has emerged as the top open-source technology in recent years, forcing us to reconsider the ongoing debate between native and cross-platform app creation. In addition to unseating React Native as the winner in the cross-platform category, it is now regarded as a fully viable alternative for projects that previously required the creation of native apps.

How Has The Evolution Of Flutter Altered Recently?

Start with the largest amount. According to Statista, the proportion of cross-platform smartphone developers using Flutter technology increased from 30% to 42% between 2019 and 2021. The numbers for 2022 aren’t available yet, but it’s reasonable to presume they’ll be even higher given the arrival of Flutter 3. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of comparable solutions were heading in the wrong direction. There are several causes for this, too.

Performance And Steadiness With Flutter

The flawless performance and stability of apps created with Flutter are two important considerations. The same Flutter mobile app will probably launch more slowly, operate at a lower frame rate, and consume more memory and battery life if it were created using another cross-platform framework. React Native is most likely the only technology that can contend in this area.

In the 3.3 version, which was published a few months ago, Google developers added image decoding and a 120 Hz refresh rate, giving Flutter app development even more options and potential.

These are the aspects that, no matter how well the app is built, you as a developer cannot avoid. More importantly, they’re always essential for users and can have a big impact on whether or not the app succeeds.

Cross-Platform Development In Flutter

Flutter was a very adaptable platform even before version 3.3. It made it possible for programmers to quickly and efficiently produce applications for iOS and Android. That’s fantastic, but it wasn’t the only structure capable of accomplishing that effectively.

The most recent iteration of Flutter goes much further by supporting desktop operation on all Intel-powered devices operating Windows, Linux, and macOS. Now that applications can run across all of those platforms from a single codebase, I don’t believe I need to mention the time and money it can save.

You can read a bit more about Flutter: The Framework For Cross-Platform Applications

Native Features In Flutter App Development

Although Flutter is a strong cross-platform development framework, this does not mean that developers are restricted from introducing features that are only applicable to certain platforms. The framework, on the other hand, offers a sizable selection of stateful and stateless widgets for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Depending on the platform we’re trying to develop for, the system offers programmers a lot of flexibility by allowing third-party integrations and APIs using Java, Kotlin, Swift, Objective-C, or C++. Therefore, when using Flutter to create apps, we can include native features without worrying about how they will affect the app’s speed.

User Interface In Flutter

One of the main challenges in cross-platform programming has long been designing User Interfaces (UI) for various devices. Native app development was your only option if your top goal was to make the most of each system’s capabilities and unique features. Although it was undoubtedly more costly, it was the only option to get us where we needed to go.

The choice is no longer as obvious and straightforward. These days, Flutter comes with a variety of tools that give developers access to platform-specific features and functions. Software developed with Flutter is frequently referred to as “feeling native.” Even though it might be exaggerated, it’s still fairly close to the reality. And every year, it gets more correct.

In the end, it all comes down to what you’re attempting to accomplish and what the main project requirements are. However, when we consider what the Flutter framework is already capable of, it’s clear that native programming is still superior in many ways.

Flutter SDK

The primary factor that makes Flutter app development a neat, quick, and affordable process that appeals to both developers and those who actually have to pay them is the devkit offered by the Google Flutter team.

It has a huge number of readily available libraries that make the development process easier and give you a lot of freedom. Flutter gives us the ability to apply pre-made solutions, incorporate third-party APIs, or simply follow the rules in an effective way.

The Flutter mobile app for professional soccer clubs, one of our most recent initiatives, is a great illustration of how those tools can aid us in achieving our objectives.

Data & Backend

The use of BaaS can significantly benefit Flutter development, though it may not be the best course for all types of projects (Backend as a Service). We can put less emphasis on readily replicable technical details and more emphasis on the actual product by using tools like Firebase, Backendless, or parse platform. In the case of a Flutter mobile game, that can cut costs by more than half.

Dart Programming Language

All of the code for Flutter is written in Dart, an object-oriented programming language that is client-optimized and simple to learn and use, particularly for those who are already familiar with Javascript. It has developed a sizable supporter base over the past few years, making it one of the most popular languages in the business.

Is Flutter The Best Framework For Your Project?

Flutter’s development over the past few years has undoubtedly produced a number of fresh arguments in support of cross-platform development. Thanks to Flutter, a growing number of projects that were originally intended to be natively complied can now be developed using the WORA (write once, run anywhere) principle.

Most importantly, Flutter has developed to the stage where it enables developers to make such cross-platform apps without skimping.

In conclusion, it’s one of the frameworks that coders love the most because it enables them to work effectively and produce top-notch results. Let’s move past the coders, though.

Why Should CEOs Like Flutter?

  1. Use Dart, one of the programming languages that is most popular in the community, for quick and inexpensive creation.
  2. There is only one source code for both desktop and mobile operating systems, which significantly lowers expenses (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux).
  3. advancing technology supported by Google (no risk of dying out).
  4. Exceptional app speed in comparison to many rival options.
  5. well-liked and well-known (large community makes it easy to extend or build a dev team for a project).

The final one might be especially significant. Flutter’s popularity and simplicity of use facilitate knowledge transfer, enabling owners to establish their own development team after the app succeeds or secure additional funding. Team expansions follow the same rules.

Flutter is still not a universal fix, of course. It shouldn’t be chosen solely on the basis of its benefits. The selection of a project’s technology is crucial, and it should be made following a thorough project-finding process. We can only make a wise choice once we are aware of the essential criteria.

Should You Build Your App With Flutter?

Flutter won’t vanish because of the large businesses supporting it. It’s free, it won’t stop changing, and it will make us keep returning to the ongoing native vs. cross-platform argument. I’ll return here to report on it as well.

Let’s use the fantastic collection of tools we already have to accomplish something in the interim. We’d also be happy to learn about any app ideas you may have and work with you to make them a reality. Let’s discuss.