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Flutter is an open source framework developed and supported by Google. Frontend and full-stack developers use Flutter to build an application’s user interface (UI) for multiple platforms with a single codebase. When Flutter launched in 2018, it mainly supported mobile app development. Flutter now supports application development on six platforms: iOS, Android, the web, Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Flutter simplifies the process of creating consistent, appealing UIs for an application across the six platforms it supports. Because Flutter is a cross-platform development framework, we’ll first compare it to native development. Then, we can highlight features that are unique to Flutter.
Native app development compared to cross-platform app development
Coding an application for one specific platform, such as iOS, is called native app development. By contrast, cross-platform app development is building an application for multiple platforms with a single codebase.
Native app development
Because developers code for a specific platform in native app development, they have full access to native device functionality. This generally leads to higher performance and speed compared to cross-platform app development.
Cross-platform app development
Cross-platform app development allows developers to use one programming language and one codebase to build an application for multiple platforms. If you’re releasing an application for multiple platforms, cross-platform app development is less costly and time-consuming than native app development.
Flutter is fast: It uses a Dart programming language compiled into native code, meaning there is no need for a JavaScript bridge. This results in apps that are fast and responsive.
Flutter creates cross-platform applications: The same code can be used to build apps for both iOS and Android devices from a single codebase rather than switching between different platforms. This can save a lot of time and effort when developing mobile apps. In addition, Flutter can be used for web development to create web applications.
Flutter has a rich set of widgets: Widgets are the building blocks of Flutter apps, and a wide variety of them are available. This makes it easy to create beautiful and custom user interfaces.
Flutter is open source: Anyone can contribute to the development of Flutter, and a growing community of developers is using it. In addition, many helpful docs/tutorials are available online, created by the Flutter community on sites like Github.
Flutter is free: There are no licensing fees or charges for Flutter app development. This makes it an attractive option for startups and developers who want to create high-quality apps without spending much money.
Google backs Flutter: As a Google product, it receives significant support from the tech giant, which constantly works to improve it. This means developers can be confident that Flutter will continue developing and supporting it.
Getting inspired by big successful apps built with Flutter: Some well-known examples include Google Ads, Reflectly, Xianyu by Alibaba, and Postmuse. This is handy for developers who want to see what is possible with Flutter before committing to using it for their projects.
Easy debugging: The Dart programming language has excellent tools for debugging, like the Dart Analyzer and the DevTools suite. This makes it easy to find and fix bugs in Flutter apps.
Automated testing: The Dart programming language has good support for automated testing, and the Flutter framework also has its own set of tools for testing. This makes it easy to create a unit, widget, and integration tests for Flutter apps so developers can constantly optimize and improve the quality of their apps.
Hardware and software utilization: Flutter apps can access the full range of hardware and software capabilities. This means they can take advantage of features such as the camera, GPS, and fingerprint scanner. They can also use platform-specific features, such as push notifications on Android apps or Face ID on Apple iOS.
Different screen adaptability: Flutter applications can be designed to work on various screen sizes and aspect ratios. This makes it easy to create apps that look great on both phones and tablets.
