Flutter is a free, open-source mobile user interface development kit, created by Google and released in May 2017. Simply put, you can use Flutter to create your own mobile app with a single code array. This means that you can use a single programming language and a single code base to create two apps (iOS and Android). It is cross-platform and allows you to compile the created project for 3 operating systems like iOS, Android, Fuchsia.
Flutter is actively promoted by Google, is gradually gaining popularity and will most likely continue to crowd other cross-platform development tools currently used (React Native, Xamarin), especially if Fuchsia is widely distributed. Given that Google positions this operating system as a replacement for Android, sooner or later Flutter will replace native development for Android.
Flutter basically aims at two important things. Firstly, an SDK (Software Development Kit), a set of tools that will help you develop applications. It includes tools for compiling code in native machine code. Secondly, the framework, the collection of functional user interfaces elements that can be personalized to your individual preferences.
When people learn about Flutter, they will inevitably learn about Dart. Dart is a programming language that was developed at Google and is used to code Flutter apps. It was announced in 2011, so it is still a young language.
Why Should You Learn Flutter?
Perfect for running MVP
A great solution for creating an MVP (Model, View and Presenter). The combination of advantages such as the built-in components of the Flutter user interface, ease of development, fast page loading speed, and reduced costs due to a single code base, makes Flutter a good solution for creating a minimally viable application product.
Fast compilation
Flutter significantly simplifies the programmer’s workflow. First, the hot reload works very well. This is a feature that allows you to display code results and debug instantly without restarting the app. In addition, having all the necessary widgets at hand reduces development costs.
Less testing effort
Since Flutter develops two applications using a single code base, testing experts only need to write automated tests only once.
The presence of autotests, good UI coverage and business logic in Flutter reduces the chance that innovations will “break” something in the current version.
If an error in logic is found during a test run on iOS, the developer fixes it once, and the problem will not pop up during app tests under Anrdoid. In native development, the set of errors will be different, which will require more resources for edits.
User experience
It is important that users perceive the cross-platform app as native — that is, as if it was written specifically for this platform. At least there should be smooth animations, interface elements typical for this OS, and working with gestures. And this is bad for everyone except Flutter.
The cross-platform often looks like a more advanced mobile version of the site in the app wrapper. Animations slow down and use unusual interface elements with unpredictable behavior.There is no such problem in Flutter. Smooth animations are its advantage,you can easily use familiar and user-friendly native elements.
Why Should You Care?
Flutter is not a magic wand, but a promising framework for speed of implementation and breadth of coverage. We are confident that in the next 3 years, up to a third of medium and large businesses will switch to Flutter, following their colleagues from Tencent, Alibaba, Yandex and others.
If you are looking for an option to quickly develop an app for iOS and Android with prospects for development, without serious losses in quality and budget-give Flutter a chance now, as other organizations have done.
