Flutter Pros and Cons: Is flutter good for app development?

What is Flutter and why is it making a splash in the mobile app development market?

Flutter is a free and open-source UI that uses Dart as its core Flutter coding language for creating cross-platform mobile applications using a single codebase. Developed and launched in 2018 by Google, it has been growing ever since in popularity and use.

As per Statista, Flutter is the most popular cross-platform mobile framework used by global developers, according to a study conducted in 2021. The idea behind Flutter for app development is to help developers build beautiful, natively compiled mobile, web, and desktop applications using a single codebase. For this, the framework uses the Software development kit (SDK) and widget-based UI library. The library consists of various reusable UI elements such as sliders, buttons, and text inputs.

Flutter technology is almost the perfect toolkit for cross-platform development, making building iOS and Android apps more straightforward and faster. With its increasing popularity, Flutter is becoming more likely the preferred technology on which many apps are currently being built worldwide. A few well-known examples of e-commerce service providers, such as eBay and Alibaba, use Flutter programming to give their mobile and web apps a uniform look and feel.

So, what makes it such an attractive choice for mobile app development? This blog will answer that by exploring some of Flutter’s pros and cons and its possibilities.

Why development teams are choosing Flutter

Flutter makes cross-platform app development possible without compromising on quality. Let us now see some reasons why development teams are choosing Flutter.

• Increases productivity

Businesses can use the same codebase for both iOS and Android, saving time and resources. Also, the native widgets of Flutter minimize the time spent on testing and ensure no Flutter compatibility issues with different versions of the OS.

• Easy to implement

Without a lot of code or the need to access OEM widgets, you can quickly build native mobile applications with an appealing user interface with Flutter programming language.

• Cost-effective

Businesses can build iOS and Android apps with the same code base so you can save the price of one.

• Available for different IDE

Developers can choose between Android Studio or VS Code to edit their code for Flutter development.

• Documentation and community support

Flutter language has plenty of resources, thanks to ample online documentation and community hubs for exchanging ideas.

• Great performance

Flutter SDK provides 60 frames per second performance speed, which is the same as other native apps.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Flutter app development

Every programming language has pros and cons. But, we can say that the advantages of Flutter outweigh the disadvantages when compared to other technologies. Let’s take a look at them.

Advantages of Flutter app development

1. Single Codebase for Any Device

Flutter’s code reusability allows developers to write just one code that can be used for Android, iOS, web, desktop, and more. So the number one reason why developers and entrepreneurs choose Flutter application development is that the development time cuts down significantly and you can launch your app faster.

2. Faster Prototyping

One of the core aspects that convinces Flutter developers and companies to go for this framework is the Hot reload function for Flutter mobile apps. Using this feature, they can view the changes they want to be made to the code in real time without the need to restart the app. The source code can be updated in running condition, and changes can show up in real time.

The entire process is improved using the hot reload function, and Flutter app developers can quickly identify the bugs and test new features or UI without any hassle.

3. Lesser Code

Flutter coding language, which is Dart, is strongly typed and object-oriented. The coding style is declarative and reactive, which enhances the app’s overall performance and start-up time.

Moreover, Flutter and Dart use a ‘Just-in-Time’ compilation that enhances the development workflow as the hot reload feature can get the UI refreshed during development.

4. Rich libraries and widgets

Flutter for Android and iOS has a fast and mature open-source graphics library that redraws its UI every time a view changes. This leads to quicker loading and a smooth flutter app experience.

The widgets are a great help when creating platform-specific visuals for the app. At the same time, you need not worry about how the UI looks on different devices.

5. Fuchsia OS support

Fuchsia is a new OS that Google is currently working on for smartphones (which is believed to replace Android in the future). Flutter apps will be compatible with Fuchsia, and all businesses have to do is deploy the apps while other apps may still be contemplating the changes.

Disadvantages of Flutter

Like many other programming languages in the app market, Flutter packages have their own limitations listed below.

1. The large file sizes because of widgets.

Flutter apps are huge and occupy a lot of space. It may take longer to download or update. Google is working towards optimizing the size but as of today, this could be a concern for small-sized apps as inbuilt widgets make the size larger.

2. Limitation in libraries

Although plenty of flutter libraries are present, the framework is comparatively new, and businesses may not find the needed functionalities. This means the developers need to create a functionality they need from scratch, which can be more time-consuming and incur costs when compared to using existing functionality.

3. Getting a platform-specific feel

Since a single code is used for all platforms, it becomes difficult to get a specific look for an individual platform. This might be a No-No for businesses who expect a specific design for Android or iOS. A separate codebase must be developed for each platform if specific designs are needed.

4. Delayed functionality introduction

The latest Android and iOS system updates are first introduced in their native SDKs. Flutter apps can see the new features with a delay common for hybrid or cross-platform apps. It can be mitigated as Flutters allows developers to easily add native code to the solution and implement the missing features.

The followings are some advantages and disadvantages of Flutter app development in a nutshell.

Summing Up

Flutter is undoubtedly the framework of future apps. As Google backs it, it is likely to see major upgrades in the coming years. The Flutter development environment presents exciting opportunities for modern app developers and businesses.

Building iOS and Android applications with the same codebase with a user-friendly interface makes Flutter mobile app development faster and more cost-effective.

Are you looking for a Flutter app development company? We at Ailoitte can help you develop a fast and future-ready app. Contact us for the opportunity and benefits of using Flutter app development for your project.

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