Curious about what is Flutter and could you use this cross-platform framework to build your next app? In this blog post we get in-depth with the specs and features Flutter has to offer and figure out which businesses it will be the best fit for.
So, you’d like to create a mobile app. Maybe, you’ve even compromised on cross-platform over natively compiled programs – excellent decision! You might even prefer React Native since it appears to be ideal for your users. But yet, it seems like everyone on the internet is nudging Flutter apps nowadays.
Well, in this penny-conscious business environment, companies want quality at not-so-excessive expense. Flutter app development provides exactly that. Using Flutter eliminates the cost of multiple platforms with one codebase for Android, iOS, and web. And if native apps are keeping you in the red? Flutter can slice that maintenance cost.
Here is what you need to discover:
What is Flutter and how does it work? – From the fundamentals to the technical details
How will Flutter enhance cross-platform application development?
Which businesses can gain the most by opting for Flutter?
Flutter vs. React Native
In fairness to both – both Flutter and React Native are good cross-platform frameworks for front-end application development. Both are excellent for mobile apps. Both will grant you access to iOS and Android apps. Both provide good app performance and contemporary solutions.
However, each has something to offer. Here, we’re concentrating on Flutter apps but, if you need to know more about React Native and other frameworks, some of the following articles may prove useful:
You may also like:
What is React Native and When to Use It?
Flutter vs React Native – Which is Better for Your Project?
4 Most Popular Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks for 2023.
And now, it’s about time we’ve clarified once and for all: what is Flutter and if it’s the right choice for your business and tech needs.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is a free UI (user interface) framework from Google that you can use to create natively compiled mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase. You can build stunning and high-performance digital products with rich, customizable widgets.
If you’d like some context, here are some interesting facts about Flutter:
Flutter comes from Google and is the technology behind much of Google’s famous products, including Google Pay and Google Earth.
Flutter was launched publicly as an open-source project in May 2017, and it became open to a wider audience of developers. Flutter achieved its first stable release in December 2018.
The ecosystem first focused on mobile platforms, iOS, and Android. It was developed as a replacement for other cross-platform development ecosystems. Later, Flutter proved more popular compared to its closest rival, React Native.
As popularity keeps growing for Flutter, its ecosystem thrives. The number of packages, libraries, and tools keeps on growing, offering developers a wide selection of resources. This enables rapid app development utilizing established solutions.
Flutter has a strong and engaging community where developers can share knowledge openly, which is a reason for its ongoing development and expansion.
Numerous popular apps are developed using Flutter, such as eBay Motors, Reflectly, Alibaba, Hamilton, Realtor.com, Square, Topline, Hookle, Birch Finance, Nubank, ING Bank Śląski (Poland), and Credit Agricole Bank Polska (Poland). Discover some more Flutter apps in development or explore top Flutter apps and business stories.
During Google I/O 2024, Google released Flutter 3.22 and Dart 3.4 with some great new things. Better performance for web applications with WebAssembly support, better graphics through theImpeller rendering engine Android release, Google AI integrations, and refreshed monetization options through the new Google Mobile Ads SDK version. Additionally, developers have access to fresh experimental programming language features such as macros and more sophisticated profiling and debugging features in DevTools that are now extensible, enabling developers to tailor their development environment. To learn more, read the Flutter 3.22 umbrella blog post and the Flutter 3.22 technical blog post.
How does Flutter work?
Now is likely the time to mention that Flutter is not a programming language. Rather, it’s a platform-agnostic SDK (software development kit) for cross-platform application development. It’s also commonly called the Flutter framework.
What is an SDK?
An SDK is a pre-fabricated kit for developing apps. It’s a single package you put in, and it contains everything you need, such as a tool to translate code into an app, detect errors, and in some cases, a collection of pre-fabricated components. It’s designed to be compatible with certain devices and platforms. Programmers utilize SDKs to implement app functionalities such as ads and alerts in an effortless manner.
What are the architecture layers in Flutter SDK?
Flutter SDK is end-to-end, and it contains a complete suite of tools to develop apps. It comes with its own graphics rendering engine, pre-made components in the form of widgets to insert into your app, and testing tools for how everything integrates. Let’s get into its core components and how they all interact.
Engine
The core of Flutter is the Flutter engine, which is primarily implemented in C++. It’s like the backstage team of a play that does all the grunt work for all Flutter apps. Whenever something happens, it paints all the visual aspects of your app on the screen. It’s also the engine that powers all of Flutter’s core capabilities, such as rendering graphics, laying out text, handling files and network requests, enabling accessibility, enabling add-ons, and executing compiled code in Dart – the language that Flutter apps are built in.
Adding further depth to the framework are the Cupertino and Material widget libraries. They can be visualized as theme-specific toolsets: Cupertino is for Apple-inspired looks, and Material is for Google-themed designs. They make it possible to leverage the generic building blocks from the widget layer to develop an application that integrates perfectly into the Android or iOS ecosystem.
