Pros and cons of using Flutter

Is Flutter the Future of App Development?

In the rapidly evolving world of app development, choosing the right framework is crucial for success. Flutter, Google's UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase, has garnered significant attention lately. But is Flutter truly the game-changer it claims to be? This post will explore the strengths and considerations of using Flutter for app development, providing you with the insights needed to make an informed decision.

Why choose Flutter?

Flutter has been making waves since its introduction in 2018. But what makes it stand out in a crowded field of app development frameworks? At its core, Flutter aims to simplify the development process by allowing developers to create high-performing, visually attractive apps with a single codebase. This means that instead of writing separate codes for iOS and Android, developers can use Flutter to build apps for both platforms simultaneously.

However, the real question is whether Flutter is a good fit for your specific needs. The answer depends on various factors, including your project's requirements, your team's expertise, and long-term maintenance considerations. In this blog post, we'll outline the key advantages of Flutter, share examples of successful apps built using the framework, and ultimately help you decide if Flutter is the right choice for your next project.

Advantages of Flutter

Cross-Platform Development

One of Flutter's most significant advantages is its ability to facilitate cross-platform development. With a single codebase, developers can create apps for both iOS and Android, significantly reducing development time and effort. This not only speeds up the time-to-market but also ensures consistency across different platforms.

Hot Reload

Flutter's "Hot Reload" feature allows developers to see the effects of code changes in real-time. This means you can experiment with your app's design and functionality without the need for lengthy recompilations. Hot Reload boosts productivity and fosters a more efficient development process, allowing teams to iterate quickly and catch bugs early.

Rich Set of Widgets

Flutter comes with a comprehensive library of pre-designed widgets that adhere to both Material Design (for Android) and Cupertino (for iOS) guidelines. These widgets are highly customizable, enabling developers to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. The wide variety of widgets ensures that you can achieve the exact look and feel you envision for your app.

Considerations

Ecosystem Growth

Flutter's ecosystem is expanding rapidly, and while it may not have as many third-party libraries and tools as some more established frameworks, the gap is closing quickly. This growth suggests an increasingly robust set of resources for developers.

App Size Optimization

Flutter apps tend to have larger file sizes than those built with native frameworks. However, Google is continually working to optimize Flutter's performance, and this factor is improving over time.

Learning Curve

Although Flutter is known for its simplicity, there is still a learning curve associated with mastering the Dart programming language and the framework's intricacies. For teams accustomed to other languages and frameworks, this may require additional training and adaptation time or an experienced Flutter team to success. 

Apps built with Flutter

Despite its relatively recent introduction, Flutter has already been used to develop numerous successful apps. Here are a few notable examples:

Google Pay

Considering Flutter originated as an in-house, proprietary tool developed by Google before being released as an open-source library, it’s entirely logical for Google to leverage Flutter across its diverse range of applications.

In early 2020, Google identified a strategic opportunity to advance their UPI platform, Google Pay. The primary goal was to increase adoption among vendors and small businesses for transactional purposes. By doing so, they aimed to enhance accessibility for everyday users and expand their customer base significantly.

To achieve this, Google turned to Flutter to enhance the scalability and user-friendliness of its platform. The outcome was impressive. Through Flutter, Google managed to reduce engineering effort by 70% and cut down lines of code by 35%.

The result? The success metrics speak for themselves.

Alibaba

Alibaba, one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms, uses Flutter for parts of its mobile app. Flutter's cross-platform capabilities enable Alibaba to deliver a consistent user experience to millions of users worldwide.

The app was developed with the Flutter app development and has been downloaded over 100 million times. 

CrimeDoor - a Somnio Software case study

As The Ringer puts it, we’re now watching true crime more than ever, and CrimeDoor found an excellent idea that could help them capitalize on this.

CrimeDoor is a comprehensive virtual reality platform where users can look at case files, examine video and picture evidence, and listen to thousands of podcasts to help get insight into some of the most famous true crime cases in modern history.

When CrimeDoor approached Somnio for a cross-platform mobile app, the challenge was imminent. CrimeDoor focused on integrating Augmented Reality tools onto the platform that could allow users to walk through these crime scenes in real time. VR/AR APIs are notoriously difficult to integrate on mobile platforms and when not done right, can end up using a big chunk of the available processing resource.

Somnio’s expert development team helped CrimeDoor seamlessly integrate their AR and payments interface with Unity without compromising on performance or efficiency. CrimeDoor is just one of the many stories that trained industry professionals have helped build with Flutter. Click here to know more.  

Wrapping up

Flutter offers a compelling solution for app development, particularly for those looking to streamline the process and achieve consistency across multiple platforms. Its numerous advantages, including cross-platform development, Hot Reload, and a rich set of widgets, make it an attractive choice for many projects. 

Ultimately, the decision to use Flutter will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. If you're intrigued by the possibilities Flutter offers, why not take the next step? Explore more about Flutter and its features by checking out our detailed guides and resources. With the right approach, you can leverage Flutter to create exceptional, high-performing apps that stand out in the competitive digital landscape.