The development of mobile applications is for quite some time present, but there are still some unresolved opinions about some of its fields. For example, the rivalry between native mobile development and a cross-platform solution is not yet resolved, and there is no final answer when it comes to a better option.
Of course, everything depends on the project and the project’s purpose, and according to specialists, there is no choice here. Thus, there is no better option; both are great.
Right now, there are two leading platforms for mobile devices – Android and iOS. Many other technologies are making cross-platform applications for mobile systems like React Native, Ionic, Xamarin, and more. Every single one of them has advantages and disadvantages.
Out of nowhere, Google revealed that there is going to be another cross-platform development system for mobile devices called Flutter. It is paired with Dart programming language, and you can develop applications for Android, iOS, and the newest open-source operating system, Fuchsia.
The main differences between Flutter and other systems:
- The application’s speed is high, congratulations Google!
- No double work is required because it has a single code base for both iOS and Android
- Native and like Android and iOS platforms
- Easy to connect with Google Services and Google Cloud
- Tools based on Android Studio and Visual Studio code
- Cross-platform development on Flutter
- Although it is new, this platform is quite promising, and many companies already use it. So far, it has been noted that this platform is fast and straightforward. Its high performance and development speed can happen thanks to:
- Lack of JavaScript; Dart is chosen, the one that is compiled into binary code is responsible for its speed of operations
- Lack of native components, no need for writing any layers for communication
- Use of declarative approach like ReactJS
- Owns a feature known as -in Hot-reload not available on native platforms
- The platform has negative sides as well, that is quite normal and expected:
- Larger final installation package
- Smaller split between logic and designs
- A little number of libraries
- Few specialists know it
But it is safe to say that its concepts are bold, it gives new opportunities and ideas, plus it has a reasonable price. The competition is high, and everyone likes to stay in business. It is also important to mention that a cross-platform approach should first be suitable for simple applications. Flutter delivers it plus gives extra sophistication.
What about Dart?
This programming language must write applications under Flutter. Developers can quickly overcome it if they have already worked with Java or JavaScript. Plus, it is quite simple and gives excellent experience. You should know that Dart language is also the official standard of ECMA and its main features include:
- Simplicity
- Easiness
- Fast standard
- High performance
- Can define classes and interfaces
- Optional use of types
- Variety of hashes, arrays, lists, queues, numeric and string types, date and time types, regular expressions and many more
- Supports large web projects
- Supports use of different libraries
- Multiple ready-made tools
- Can make a homogeneous system that includes client and server-side
- Things are clearer for you know. That is true, but if you want to learn its library right away, visit the Google Codelabs page because there are step by step instructions, which can be quite helpful. Also, the written below guide can assist you as well:
- Install Flutter SDK
- Download code for “Hello World,” then review it then run it
- Look around Dart syntaxis
- Get to know the concept of programming
- Explore and learn Layouts and Widgets
- Study about Flutter Data and Back-end
- Improve your knowledge
- Remember that here every widget is a part of the application, unlike others that are part of the platform. Documentation about Flutter reveals that a widget can determine:
- Buttons or menus
- Fonts or color schemes
- Padding
Widgets can also be Stateless or Stateful. Stateless widgets contain all the elements required for rendering by overriding the build method. It runs by void main()+>runApp(). If you override the build method, you will take the necessary element in it. Flutter is all about composition, and you should not expand already present items to make a new one. On the other hand, Stateful widgets, support redrawing when their state shifts. To make this possible, one must first inherit from StatefulWidget and make an inheritor class State <T>.
Android and iOS Themes
Applications for Android must be differently made than applications for iOS. That is a rule that has been used and will be used in the future. Not only the colors but also the size and the style of widgets need to be different. Thus, customization of the user interface for each platform is required. That is possible, thanks to different themes.
Three important methods are available when it comes to testing:
- Unit testing
- Widget testing
- Integration testing
In conclusion, Flutter is suitable for about 80 percent of applications that have to be published on iOS and Android at the same time. It is suitable for rapid prototypes because its development is fast. Flutter can also save money and time and fits standard applications. Fortunately, it can be a good fit for complex applications as well, but it will require more time and effort.
