When it comes to app development, many are excited about Flutter, and there are good reasons for that. Since its version 1.0 release in December 2018, this platform technology has gained many followers among app developers worldwide. But what exactly is Flutter and what makes it so special?

What is Flutter?

Let's start with the basics. Flutter is a programming platform specifically designed for mobile app development. However, it can also be used for web app development. Behind the platform is Google, and the programming language used is Google's own – Dart – which is similar to JavaScript. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to develop apps for both Google's mobile operating system Android and for Apple's counterpart, iOS.

Developing a Cross-Platform App for Android and iOS with Flutter

With Flutter, you can significantly shorten the development time without compromising on quality, usability, or compatibility. How is this possible?

As mentioned, Flutter allows development for Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, and the web. This is called cross-platform development and offers significant benefits for both app developers and project clients. Simply put, you don't need to develop multiple versions; building one app is enough.

Another important aspect to note is that Flutter is open-source, which is advantageous in reducing development time. For instance, it provides ready-made widgets that streamline the development process since you don't need to code everything from scratch.

App Development with Ready-Made Features – Widgets through Flutter

Having access to well-built and readily available widgets is often invaluable. Something as simple as embedding a map has often required the app developer to program it. In Flutter, there are widgets for most common functions. These include not only simple components like buttons but also those with more complex functionality. You could describe it as Lego pieces that fit together.

Flutter also delivers in terms of performance. It's fast and smooth. One reason for this is Skia, which is Flutter's graphics engine. By drawing every screen pixel, it can animate up to 60 frames per second, something that works even on slower devices.

Faster Development Process with Hot Reload – Notice Changes Instantly

Flutter also enables a faster development process through features like Hot Reload. Hot Reload allows, among other things, previewing code changes without restarting the app. This is particularly useful in the debugging process. App developers can quickly test different solutions to troubleshoot both bugs and performance issues since they don't have to wait for long restart times.

Hot Reload is also valuable for fine-tuning the user interface and user experience. Thanks to the fast restart time, app developers can test UI design, animations, and interaction patterns more smoothly. This allows for the development of a more user-friendly app.

How Does Flutter Compare to React Native?

When it comes to choosing a technology for app development, many developers are faced with the choice between Flutter and React Native. What both development platforms have in common is that they offer cross-platform functionality for both Android and iOS. So, how does Flutter compare to its competitor?

• High performance with Flutter. Unlike React Native, Flutter can provide high performance thanks to its proprietary rendering engine Skia. Apps programmed with Flutter can thus run smoothly on different devices. This is particularly beneficial for apps with high graphic requirements, as animations and transitions become smoother and less dependent on the device's performance. React Native, on the other hand, is more dependent on the device's native components, which can result in uneven performance across platforms.

• Unified design across platforms. Another major difference is the programming language, where React Native uses JavaScript. At first glance, this may seem advantageous if your developers are familiar with this programming language, but there are gains to be made in terms of time and resources with Flutter. With Flutter, app developers can instead create a unified user experience across multiple platforms, thanks to Flutter's wide range of widgets. This makes it possible to create native-like interfaces for both iOS and Android. Overall, this saves both time and resources since the same codebase can be reused. This reduces the need to have separate teams working on different platforms.

• Faster development process with Hot Reload. Even though React Native offers similar features, Flutter's implementation of Hot Reload is considered more efficient.

The Biggest Advantages of Flutter

One major advantage of Flutter is the ability for app developers to work more efficiently and save time. As we have discussed in this article, app development with Flutter can lead to several significant advantages:

• Cross-platform development. One app for Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, and the web.• Hot Reload. Ability to see changes in real-time.• Widgets. Ready-made components for many, including complex functions.• Open-source. Multiple developers can simultaneously contribute to new ideas and solutions.• Well-integrated with Firebase. Flutter is tightly integrated with this development platform for mobile and web apps. Firebase supports not only iOS and Android apps but also Web, macOS, and Windows.• Animations. Ability to create beautiful and advanced animations regardless of the device's performance.

The many advantages make us at Third Act recommend Flutter. We build the apps of the future and want to do it with the help of future technology. Flutter has a clear place in that vision.

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