What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source UI kit from Google that helps developers build mobile, desktop, and web applications with a single codebase. It is not an exaggeration to say Flutter came and Conquered. You would believe this if you know that there is huge number of flutter apps in the Google store as of mid-2022. It is also evident in the Github and stack flow forums that developers are falling in love with the framework day in and day out, especially with its cross-platform app development space.
In Spite of being a young framework, flutter has definitely bagged great popularity and is proving to be a hard competitor to React Native.
However, like in every product, there are pros and cons to using Flutter too. This blog lists them for you to make an informed choice.
Flutter Advantages
Single Code for any device
Flutter is a single codebase framework, which means one code can be used in IOS, Android, or web apps as you need. This might sound like just another cross-platform framework, but just until you try the extremely easy process and beautiful results that flutter offers.
The other feature that makes flutter unique is flutter’s custom widgets that have made creating prototypes a much easier process. Flutter is bringing the idea of building apps that can be available anywhere without device limitations, in other words, Ambient computing to reality with Google.
Make changes on the go
With Flutter app development, developers have almost forgotten the pain of rebooting the entire system for making small changes. Flutter provides a hot load option that allows the developers to tweak the app as per their needs and see the changes take effect in real-time without having to reboot. This has made trying out new stuff easier and effective for developers plus saving hours of time and their sanity.
Quick Development
In the competition that is going in the digital space, the quicker is the better. Choosing Flutter to build your apps can help you save hours more than any standard native application.
What makes flutter quicker is its single codebase feature. Having to write only one code for multiple platforms would definitely cut so much time plus is the hot reload feature that flutter offers. This is a magic feature that aids in releasing the app weeks earlier because the developer can make changes on the go and check which otherwise is an aching process.
The other factor that makes development quicker with Flutter is the app programming language that it uses- Dart. The language is much simpler with no classes in other classes, easy access control, simple numeric enums, async/await Keywords and efficient code formatting makes app development faster with flutter.
Easy Maintenance with simultaneous Android and IOS updates
The android and IOS app updates can be rolled out simultaneously as there is only one code for both in a flutter. This also makes it easy to maintain the app as there is no different set of developers working on the code.
Bug fixing and maintaining the apps is easier with flutter. You can even take it in-house without the help of the development team or just have one developer do the changes.
Fuschia support for Future-ready apps
Fuschia is the most buzzed new operating system that Google is said to be working on. It is believed that Fuschia will replace android in the future. Though there is not much information about this, you may not fear this change on using Flutter. Flutter apps will be compatible with Fuschia, so the day it is released all you have to do is to deploy your apps, while apps will still be contemplating the changes.
Better Adaptability with Flutter
Devices are not one size, while there are already several screen sizes and aspect ratios in existing devices, new devices are launched with flip screens and foldable screens. To make an app fit all these screen variants is not easy. But with flutter, this is relatively easy. They have a layout system that can fit your app in any screen range.
Leverage Device Hardware
Mobile apps are popular for the immersive experience they offer by using the device features. However, Cross-platforms are not fully equipped to use the camera, GPS, and other hardware of the device like that of native apps. This can be overcome with flutter.
In flutter mobile app development, developers need to prepare code in swift or kotlin and send the data to Dart through specific channels called platform channels. Flutter has already created channels for most of the features of standard smartphones and has made it open for the developer community, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Flutter Disadvantages
It has more pros than cons, however, there are a few limitations that are present currently. They are listed below.
Getting the Platform Specific feel
Since a single code is used for all the platforms, it is not possible to get specific looks for specific platforms. This might be a no for purists who are expecting material design for android and IOS.
If you want to develop specific designs, then different codes must be developed for each platform.
It is young and new
Flutter is young. It may evolve into something that we may not agree with. However, Flutter is from Google and it is expected to be current and relevant always.
Late updates on IOS and Android
Android and IOS updates are rolled out to their native apps first and later to Flutter. However, this is not a big con, as even with native apps, features cannot be added on day one.
Big File Size
Flutter app size is big on other platforms, this is a shortcoming as nobody wants an app that weighs more and occupies much space in their mobile.
Unfamiliar language
Flutter uses a unique programming language called Dart. This is not a popular language. So, when developers start to create flutter applications they will have to need the language specifically.
Conclusion
It is visible that the pros of flutter outweigh their Cons. You can switch to flutter without any doubt and enjoy the benefits they offer in one breath. Flutter is undoubtedly the framework of future apps, Since it is backed by Google it cannot go wrong with mobile applications. Looking for a flutter app development company? Well, NYL technologies can do the work for you. We help you develop fast and future-ready apps with flutter.