With digitalization spreading its wings and reaching every part of the globe, the need and consequently the availability of smartphones and the internet has risen too. Amidst these technological disruptions, mobile apps have emerged as an indispensable tool for smartphones to function effectively.
It's hard to imagine a smartphone without an app. As more and more people are getting connected to the internet, businesses from various sectors are moving their services online via an app as a medium. This has led to a massive rise in mobile app development and hence the competition amongst service providers to launch robust and unique apps earliest in the market.
Mobile app development frameworks are the key to creating powerful apps with mind-blowing features, cost-effectively. Businesses use these platforms to create any type of app they like for any number of platforms in minimal time and cost.
In this post, we will discuss one such app development framework, Flutter, which developers can use to create robust apps in minimal time.
What is Flutter?
Flutter, developed by Google and launched in 2017, is a robust open-source software development kit. It is ideal for building cross-platform mobile apps that feel and look almost like native apps.
Flutter is an app development framework that brings all the necessary tools required for building cross-platform apps at one place. This framework can be used to develop apps for all leading platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, etc.
Using Flutter, developers can make apps cost-effectively using the best IDE and UI tools provided by the framework in minimal time and optimum quality. The most significant benefit this framework flaunts is the use of a single codebase to build, test and deploy apps for multiple platforms.
According to Statista, based on a survey conducted in 2021, Flutter arose as the most popular cross-platform mobile app development framework globally. Flutter was used by 42% of developers and took the spot of being the most used cross-platform framework from React-native, which was used by around 38% of developers in 2021 compared to 42% in 2020.
Source: Statista
We'll delve deeper into the components and other insights about Flutter but first, let's take a look at its history and recent advancements that have been made.
Flutter: Journey to 2022
Flutter was first introduced to the world in 2015 at the Dart Developer Summit as "Sky." This beta program was first developed to be run on Android operating systems. Flutter continued to operate in the beta stage, and in September 2018, Google declared Flutter Release Preview 2, the final preview before the Flutter 1.0 launch.
The first stable version of this framework, Flutter 1.0, was soon launched on Dec 4, 2018, extending support to Android and iOS. Followed by this, several versions with notable improvements and additional features were launched. It should be noted that between 2018 & 2019, a number of versions were released, such as v1.2.1 and v1.9.
The next big released version of Flutter, known as Flutter 1.12, was launched exactly one year after the mainstream release, on Dec 11, 2019. Many versions have been released following this, which you can learn from the infographic provided below. Flutter 2.8.0 and 2.8.1 are the latest most advanced versions of this framework released on Dec 9 & 17, 2021, respectively.
What Does a Developer Get with Flutter?
Flutter has risen to the top in the list of most used cross-platform app development frameworks beating React Native, which held the top spot for three consecutive years. Its architecture which consists of some of the best components is the reason behind the quick success. Here are the key components of Flutter:
Source: Basic architecture of Flutter apps
#1 Flutter Framework
One of the key reasons behind the excellent performance of Flutter apps is that this framework is written in dart language. Dart language is known for its rich library of widgets and some of the best features corresponding to its dart virtual machine, such as just-in-time and ahead-of-time compilation technology and hot reload.
Flutter framework includes foundational libraries, which houses many classes and services such as animation, gestures, and painting. The framework provides a widget library that helps users design beautiful and interactive UIs.
Flutter also provides two sets of design-specific widgets, Material Design widgets by Google and Cupertino, an iOS-style widget for creating iOS-style apps.
#2 Rendering Engine
The flutter rendering engine is responsible for rendering the UI using skia, a graphics engine written in C/C++. The engine is responsible for interfacing the app with platform-specific SDK, be it the one provided by iOS or Android. This gives the app a native-like feel even though the rendering is done using a flutter engine.
#3 Platform Embedder
Platform embedder usually holds the third layer of overall flutter architecture. As the name suggests, the platform embedder refers to the native OS application, which acts as an interface between the device's operating system and the Flutter.
This embedder is responsible for giving a kickstart to the flutter app so to initialize the flutter engine and receive inputs for creating UI and imaging. Platform embedder is accountable for issuing notifications, screen sizing, and interfacing external tools such as keyboard, mouse, etc.
Why Should Developers Choose Flutter?
Flutter offers numerous benefits to developers for choosing it for cross-platform app development. These benefits are genuine reasons behind the success of this framework.
#1 Single Codebase
One of the most notable benefits of using Flutter is using a single codebase for creating an app for multiple platforms, i.e., cross-platform. Developers don't have to write a separate codebase for every platform. This significantly reduces the workload on developers and consequently saves time and money.
#2 Natively compiled and feels truly native
Another reason Flutter is rising as the most used cross-platform app development framework is its feature of native rendering that makes the app, developed using it, feel and function like native apps. Flutter uses Dart Language, which can be seamlessly compiled into the native language.
#3 Easier to learn and access
As mentioned on Flutter.dev, this framework is suitable for even programmers with little experience in programming to make an app. Isn't it wonderful? The official Flutter website provides complete documentation and extensive video tutorials that help developers learn to use this framework step by step. Moreover, the flutter community is very active and genuinely helps solve the users' problems by answering their queries in minimal time.
#4 Hot Reload
Hot reload yet another appealing feature of Flutter that is quite endearing to the developers. This function allows you to easily alter or make changes to the source code files and view the immediate effect of the changes. This is not the case in other frameworks; you need to change the entire codebase and rebuild the app to reflect the changes.
But in contrast, Flutter allows you to change only the specific items you want to change and push the updated codebase in the running app and witness the framework make real-time changes. This allows you to experiment and build unique features and UI throughout the app development process without worrying about redevelopment.
#5 Ahead-of-time compilation
An ahead-of-time compilation feature greatly benefits flutter apps by improving their speed and performance. This feature allows the dart code to be compiled into machine code during the build-time instead of run-time. Build-time represents the time when the app is being built, or the program is being written.
In apps built using other frameworks, the compilation is done during run-time, which slows down the app's program and performance. In contrast, the Dart language allows you to compile the codebase in build-time, consequently reducing the work that needs to be done during run-time, resulting in comparatively faster program execution and improving the speed.
#6 Faster performance
According to the official website of Flutter, Flutter is built to help developers attain a performance framerate of 60 fps(frame per second), and in cases where the device is capable of 120Hz updates, this rate could go upto 120fps. This is considered to be an excellent rate that provides great execution speedand faster performance.
Another reason behind the excellent performance of Flutter apps is that in these apps, native rendering is done, which means codes are natively compiled, and hence no interpreters are needed. As the time taken by interpreters to compile the code is diminished, these apps start quickly.
Top Apps Built using Flutter
Some of the biggest conglomerates in the world have chosen Flutter to build apps for their businesses thanks to the developer-friendly and developer-scalable environment it provides. Take a look at the infographic attached below to know some of the most popular apps built on Flutter.
Key Factors That Affect the Cost of Flutter App Development
Certain factors highly influence the cost of app development in the Flutter framework. Keeping a check on these factors might help reduce the overall cost of app development.
#1 Number of Widgets
The number of widgets employed in building the cross-platform app highly influences development cost. The higher the number of widgets used, the higher will be the cost. Not all the widgets offered in the framework are free; developers might have to pay to use certain premium and unique features. To keep the overall cost of development minimum, it's highly recommended to use only those widgets that are necessary and adequate for the efficient functioning of the app.
#2 Effects and Animation
Effects and animation help make a rich and beautiful UI and an interactive app. Just like in other frameworks not all widgets are free, some premium and robust effects and animations come for a price. One such effect is "Opacity," though highly used, it costs more than other widgets. Clipping is also a function that developers should use carefully as it is one such function that costs a lot.
While the mentioned functions directly cost more, there are specific effects that indirectly end up increasing the cost. For example, effects such as "Opacity," "Chip," "Text," "ShaderMask," and "ColorFilter" invoke a function called "saveLayer," which ends up being a costly operation. Hence using minimal effects wisely can help reduce the hidden costs.
#3 Testing and Maintenance
Testing is a necessary operation that is needed not just during the build process but also after final app deployment to ensure that the app is free of malware, ransomware, and other flaws that can threaten the security and functioning of the app. The same thing goes for maintenance which is mandatory for seamless performance and functioning of the apps. Both of these operations should be included in the budget planning before the app development.
#4 Updates
Updates are the necessary tasks after the final app deployment process to ensure that all the user feedback and concerns regarding the app's functioning are addressed. Also, to ensure that the app remains in the competition and follows and stays up-to-date with the real-time trends. These updates, just like app development, cost significantly, as they require a team of developers who have access to the framework plus additional set of features and functions that need to be added. All of these necessities add up increasing the cost of updating the app.
App Categories that Should Focus on Flutter
#1 Banking and Finance apps
Flutter is highly suitable for building banking and finance apps thanks to the ease of learning, cost effectiveness and lower time to merge which consequently improves performance. One fine example of a banking app using Flutter is the Nubank app.
Nubank is one of the leading digital banks headquartered in Brazil. The official app of these digital banks is made using Flutter. The reason they chose Flutter, according to Igor Borges, a software engineer in Nubank was, "Flutter had everything we needed right out of the box: good documentation on how to integrate our app, and a hot reload that really works, support from the community, and tooling.".
#2 E-Commerce apps
Flutter is an ideal framework for building ecommerce apps owing to its numerous benefits. The hot-reload feature allows developers to instantly experiment with new features and UI designs in the app. Moreover, the extensive library written in Dart, and a huge number of design-specific widgets help developers create unique features that help in improving the overall user experience.
Ease of learning and accessing Flutter frameworks allows new and existing developers to become pro and easily update the apps with fascinating and unique features. Alibaba's Xianyu app, an online used goods e-commerce platform with over 50 million downloads, was created using Flutter. Another such app is eBay motors, an online platform for selling and purchasing used and vintage cars. The success of these apps is enough evidence to show the credibility of Flutter framework.
#3 Musical apps
Musical apps, be it for musical theaters like Hamilton, music streaming, or songwriting, can be built cost-effectively using Flutter. Hamilton, a well-known American musical held in Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway, used Flutter to build a Hamilton app to enhance audience interaction. Hamilton app offers tickets to Broadway, lottery, karaoke, and trivia to keep the audience hooked to the Hamilton team.
Another example, Sua Musica, a well-known Brazilian music streaming and downloading app with more than 10 million monthly listeners. This app again was created using Flutter.
#4 Apps for cars
Flutter is the best framework to build apps suitable for tracking and controlling cars. BMW and one of the biggest car manufacturers, choose Flutter to build an app that enables their customers to track their cars' whereabouts, tire condition, fuel level, etc.
My BMW app allows users to remotely control their BMW's air conditioning, door locks, and much more. According to the developers at BMW, they chose Flutter because the platform is developer-friendly and cost-effective. Using a single codebase allowed the development of customer-centric apps for multiple countries and platforms.
There are many more genre of apps that can be built using Flutter such as tracking and navigation apps that require the use of GPS service, fitness apps, gaming apps, crowd-sourcing apps and many more.
GoodFirms Opinion: Flutter is an ideal app for businesses looking forward to building apps for multiple platforms and screens with beautiful and rich UI in a minimal time.
