Choosing Flutter and Built Cross-Platform Apps 

• By Zain
• 24-08-2022
• Mobile Apps

The way we develop apps and look at the development process is changing rapidly, and there are new adaptations every single day. As a brand, it is important to be aware and stay at the top of the game by knowing what kind of tools will help the business further accelerate. 

Now, when we breakdown how what the development cycle looks like and the processes everyone has to go through – it can be overwhelming. Be it a developer, a designer, or a product strategist, not having a clear-cut idea of the project will create chaos. Be ahead and stay consistent with the flow of the project by using the right toolkit. 

Here, we will talk about Flutter and tell you why even enterprises like Google and eBay have resorted to it. A platform that enables cross-platform functionality and is exceptional in terms of usability – might be ideal for you.

Read further to know why. 

What is Flutter?

An iPhone app development company considers Flutter as it is open-source and has cross-platform compatibility. Meaning that you can create an app that works for Android and iOS, along with web support. One code. Multiple platforms. 

More than just mobile, Flutter enables developers to create apps that are suitable for wearable devices as well. Flutter is powered by Google, and there is support all year round. In fact, Google promotes Flutter every year at the annual I/O conferences. We have seen multiple major updates roll out, and the toolkit keeps getting better by relying on consumer and developer feedback. 

Share your team’s work on Github and collaborate with other stakeholders. Flutter makes companies connect better with the tech community, upscaling together in the long run. If we do a breakdown – here is what companies love: 

Fits in the budget 
Multiple apps on the same lines of code
Better than native app development 
The widgets functionality 

Flutter is more than a framework and is a detailed SDK that developers can utilize once they know how to navigate through it. You can even use widgets to create a design that reflects what the app and the overall brand stand for. The UI flows seamlessly with both Android and iOS, and you don’t have to worry about the structure overlapping.

Why Flutter: Pros and Cons
Now, we will go into more detail and talk about the exact advantages and disadvantages you should be aware of. We are looking at Flutter from both business and developer perspectives:

Pros

1. The budget works

Now, what we mean is that apps created on Flutter are better in terms of functionality and do not require the necessary budget, unlike on a native app. Flutter was designed by Google to create an ecosystem where small businesses and startups could easily set up a minimum viable product (MVP) and reduce the overall workload. 

A few engineers and a team of developers to oversee, and you are good to go. Companies claim that they were able to create more with fewer resources with the help of Flutter. 

2. The performance is better 

You would expect some kind of compromise when compared with native apps, but surprisingly, Flutter delivers an experience where everything is flawless. Flutter-based apps do not require a bridge to connect with native components, unlike other frameworks, and if we look at the updates:

iOS animations take less than 40 percent GPU usage 
Page opening speed is quicker by up to percent
Less memory allocation 

With each update, the performance keeps getting better. 

3. Faster development cycle 

Usually, when assessing processing speeds, developers look at Swift for iOS and Java for Android if a scenario is considered. But with Flutter, there is a single codebase, enabling teams to assemble together and work on the same standardized code. The time to launch is reduced, and there is less risk involved. 

Alibaba, New York Times, and SpaceX are just a few out of a dozen companies that have resorted to using Flutter for their app. Engineers claim that Flutter helped reduce the estimated time from a month to just two weeks.

Cons

1. Third-party library restrictions

Flutter is new and innovative, and that is definitely a plus point, but along with the benefits, there is a lack of libraries available for readily use. You will not face this problem with native languages. 

But yes, we do acknowledge that dev.pub is a vital resource in all of this and is a helping hand – a package manager that works for Flutter. Currently, there are 2 million developers who exclusively work on Flutter, and the number is predicted to grow in the coming years. 

2. Relatively new

Flutter was launched in 2017, and when we compare it with native languages, Flutter has a long way to go. There is potential, and we have seen exponential growth, but this doesn’t undermine the fact that setting a new framework as their default choice takes time. 

Companies are still researching and looking at better alternatives to native programming languages. Starting work from scratch and using new libraries is a part of the Flutter development process. Using Flutter is beneficial in the long run, but it takes time to adapt and learn. 

3. Dart is an emerging language

Flutter works collaboratively with Dart and applies to both client and server-side applications. Unfortunately, Dart has not progressed enough to contend with the likes of Java or C++. Developers usually shy away from the language, and not a lot of companies are willing to use Dart and Flutter together. 

However, updates are underway, and the recent Dart 2.8 update includes features that make Wear OS-based applications easy to develop.

Examples of Flutter Apps

If we look at current trends, app development Los Angeles currently thrives on the basis of emerging technologies built completely on Flutter, and despite the fact that it is a new SDK – like we said – even Google and Alibaba have completely resorted to Flutter, they trust the ecosystem. Here are just a few examples of Flutter-based applications: 

AdWords
Xianyu (Alibaba)
JD Finance 
New York Times
eBay Motors
Google Assistant 

And a whole lot more. So far, we have not seen a lot of complaints from either the development or business side on Flutter-based applications.

Final Thoughts

Considering how we all look at an iPhone app development company and expect trends to follow, the future is uncertain and surprising in a good way. An ecosystem where Flutter is responsible for big-data applications assures both innovation and steadiness. 

Be ahead of the competition and keep learning about Flutter until you settle down to initiate a project.