What is Flutter? When and Why You Should Use It in App Development

Gina Dirane
4 min readFeb 24, 2021

What is the Flutter app development? This toolkit is Google’s cross-platform infrastructure, which makes it easy to build smartphone, tablet, and web application programs. The app keeps up with the new technologies and is used by developers worldwide. It is, most critically, open-source and absolutely free.

Reasons to Choose Flutter for Your App

Cross-platform applications are a long-standing dream of every company since the creation and maintenance of different native iOS and Android apps are more costly. From a single codebase, Flutter provides a simple way to build visually attractive applications for all operating systems, desktop computers, and the internet. It is used and supported heavily by Google, and in the near future, we expect it to become globally popular.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the Flutter app development framework’s strengths:

- Development of low-cost applications

Two criteria should be fulfilled by an optimal cross-platform: have a high-quality user interface (smooth animations, native UI elements without slowing down), and be cost-friendly from the perspective of growth.

Flutter’s benefit is not only that it generates one program instead of two. With this system, by adapting the app to any of the platforms, you will also have fewer issues. Many architectures can cope, but that’s only if, in the sense of basic implementations, they can be considered.

- Similar to native app performance

While a Flutter app is built directly into the machine code, during interpretation, that will exclude any performance bugs. In comparison to most other cross-platform implementations, a Flutter program would essentially be indistinguishable from the native version, as it does not depend on any intermediate code representations or understanding.

-Simple logic implementation

Flutter offers specialized OS functionality in ready-to-use plugins that are supported by Google, such as GPS coordinates, sensor data collection, authorization management, Bluetooth, passwords, and other features.
Flutter will create contact between its Dart programming language and the native code using platform channels if the software relies on an OS-level function not available as a plugin.

- The customizable kit of widgets

Widgets are the fundamental blocks of a Flutter program that are used to create a user interface. Its layering makes it possible to build applications with some sophistication. Centered on simple widgets, you can use ready-made widgets from Material-UI or implement particular components. With Flutter, the simplicity of working with animation and gesture processing is also possible. Thus, with high-level widgets, you can mix quick work and also have the potential to add/redefine deeper levels.

When your choice should not be Flutter

This versatile platform that allows multifunctional applications to be built is ideal for high speed, ease, and simplicity, both for beginners and seasoned programmers. It has some flaws, however, especially when building apps in the following situations:

Rare, unfamiliar native libraries need to be used

There are currently the most important libraries in operation, and new ones are continuously being introduced. Thus, in the second half of 2018, various libraries were introduced (apparently in anticipation of the first stable release), with the most significant ones already existing, such as Google Analytics, Firebase, Maps, etc.

However, if you plan to use a particular native library that is not available during app creation in the Flutter repository, it is still feasible, although it will take time. Customized application channels (for Android and iOS separately) would have to be introduced by developers for that purpose.

Progressive Web and Instant Apps development

It is appropriate for such implementations to be limited in scale. But apps developed with Flutter are still larger, even after optimization, than their native counterparts. The use of resources varies from a few to 20 MB, while Google makes applications with a maximum size of 10 MB.

Developing AR/VR software

Using this platform to develop your AR/VR app is not required. Alternatively, you should think about using the Unity3D or Unreal Engine software, as they support different platforms, allow for quicker development of those apps and provide a lot more support.

With Flutter, what apps can be made?

In plain terms, any. Nowadays, for Alibaba, Yandex, Airbnb, Uber, and other major corporations, Flutter is commonly used to build apps. With the assistance of Flutter, you can create applications for:

  • Different shopping uses (loyalty services, catalogs, online stores)
  • Fintech and banks (working for small businesses);
  • Franchisees and suppliers;
  • Large-scale enterprise (contact centers, courier control, organization of internal processes).

Conclusion

Flutter is designed to build high-performance software in record time, helping developers escape so many issues that it is impossible to list all of them here. You ought to try it in operation to truly understand this product development kit. eTraverse is a globally renowned Flutter app development company offering next-gen fluid native interfaces for both iOS and Android.

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Gina Dirane

Digital Learning and Management Solutions (South Africa) Learn more at https://etraverse.com/