Startups choose cross-platform mobile app development because it has proven to be a faster, more cost-efficient, and easier way to get their product to the market with diverse audiences. To avoid getting crippled with the bottlenecks and from the cumbersome process of developing multi-platform production, you need to craft a well-thought production plan that can be executed with the right tools at hand.
Initially, it is difficult to expend your cash reserves by hiring large teams. Moreover, deploying multiple resources for cross-platform mobile app development can also pose a challenge in the long run. Using too many technologies and bigger teams at the first stage can create a mess. Just like a saying “Too many cooks spoil the broth!”
The ideal way is to choose the most suitable cross-platform framework for your startup project. With that, you will have a synergized team working in a common direction to create an exceptional mobile app. A well-chosen framework for multi-platform purposes will help do the same job without hiring large teams. With Flutter, you get this leverage. It can speed up your product development, release schedules in sync, can scale up or down as per your customer base, and is the most cost-efficient alternative. Increasing profit margins is the best output that you always seek.
The blog digs deeper into the key reasons that have influenced many startups and businesses to choose Flutter over other cross-platform mobile app development frameworks like Xamarin, PhoneGap, or React Native.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source framework crafted by Google. The aim was to build scalable cross-platform applications that can be seamless and easy to use. Powered by a unique codebase platform, Flutter is the best choice among developers to build highly efficient mobile applications. Users get the most advanced, functional, and visually appealing interfaces on both the platforms iOS and Android.
Google provides a portable UI toolkit in Flutter to design beautiful and native-like mobile applications for multiple platforms through a single codebase. Moreover, the Dart language helps Flutter app developers to create MVPs (minimum viable products) quickly with great performance.
Similarly, Flutter has numerous advantages, enabling it to create the best mobile applications that are scalable and can be customized.
Let us find out some of the most interesting stats about Flutter:
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Worldwide, 46% of developers choose to build cross-platform mobile applications by using Flutter. That is approximately one-third of mobile developers.
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Another report shows majority of the Flutter users are startups and enterprises from small to medium scale. In addition, the top three countries using Flutter for mobile application development are India, the United States, and Brazil.
So what is so good about Flutter? Let us find it out.
Flutter Architecture
Flutter has a systematic layered system, comprising a framework, the engine, and platform-specific embedders. With Google’s Dart Programming language, developers build robust Flutter applications. The Flutter engine is originally written in C/C++. In addition, the Skia library empowers the capabilities of Flutter graphics.
Another crucial element of Flutter Architecture is Dart. Dart language supports Flutter in both situations Ahead-of-time (AOT) and Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation. AOT performs code compilation turning it into an effective native-code. This makes the app process faster and improves the performance. JIT empowers Flutter hot reload system and reduces the entire development timeline.
As you refer to the above architecture, you will realize it makes the Flutter app development process extremely simple and quick, adding more functionalities with scalability.
Why do Startups and Enterprises Choose Flutter?
For startups, Flutter is an ideal choice for creating cross-platform mobile applications. With Flutter, they can create native-like apps for both iOS and Android platforms through a single codebase. Apart from this benefit, it also provides a speedier development process without compromising on the app quality. The large and active community of Flutter offers numerous types of resources and stellar support to the new developers.
For enterprises, again Flutter exhibits resilience and creates high-performing apps. The framework has a unified development approach and so it adopts simple processes that are more suitable for larger projects to be launched on multiple platforms. Throughout the app ecosystem, it provides better efficiency and consistency.
Key Reasons Why Flutter is the Ideal Solution for Cross-platform Development
Below are the pros and cons of Flutter app development. Especially we consider the benefits of Flutter as the key reasons for its popularity and wider acceptability.
Pros of Flutter App Development
Single Codebase
Developers can use a single codebase for multiple platforms, enabling time-saving and cost-efficiency. This feature also helps you maintain your mobile app with regular updates and enhancements. You no longer need to manage separate codebases for iOS and Android.
Hot Reload
It is a revolutionary feature for Flutter app developers. Developers can change codes in real time and can get immediate visualization of the impact. They do not require to restart the entire app to get the updates. Hence, the whole development process gets a boost and this promotes better collaborations between team members.
Multiple Themes
Multiple themes available in Flutter give wider flexibility to developers. They can create numerous visual styles according to user preferences. This feature is very crucial to maintain a fresh and engaging user interface.
More Widget Choices
Flutter has a wider library of widgets that simplifies the app development process. With a broad range of options available in widgets like UI elements, it can build complex functionalities for the mobile app. Your app can be created with dynamic features that can enhance the entire user experience. Some of the most important widgets of Flutter are:
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Animation and motions
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Accessibility
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Async
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Assets image and icon
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Basics
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Input
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Cupertino
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Layout
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Interaction Models
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Material Components
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Painting and Effects
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Styling
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Scrolling
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Text
Lesser Development Time
Flutter has minimal action requirements. Also, it is not expensive to maintain a Flutter mobile app. Larger apps can be created with unique features in less time as compared to other cross-platform development frameworks.
Enhanced Time-to-market Speed
Flutter development framework is highly responsive as compared to others. The framework provides quick time-to-market for both iOS and Android platforms.
Native-like Performance
Empowered by Skia, Flutter can create stunning native-like apps that enable quick and well-optimized development. Also, unlike native apps it doesn’t have to rely on interpreters for code representations.
Great Community
Statistics reveal Flutter as the most popular framework and the first and foremost choice for developers worldwide. A whopping 40% of global developers choose Flutter to build cross-platform applications.
Own Rendering Engine
Unlike other cross-platform solutions, Flutter contains packages with a set of widgets that can be applied to both operating systems.
Safety Features
Flutter’s null-safety is supported on the syntax level. Its UI code is single-threaded and all the computational threads are implemented in isolated sandboxes.
Dart
Dart is another strong supportive language that enables Flutter to stand out from other languages. As explained above, AOT makes Flutter widgets customizable and quicker to start. Whereas JIT helps code optimization while in the running process.
Good Documentation and Community Support
Through its extensive documentation and vibrant community, Flutter supports users with numerous resources and tutorials so that it becomes easy to learn and troubleshoot any issues.
Strong Industry Acceptance
Flutter is a highly acclaimed cross-platform framework, known well for Google, Alibaba, Tencent, and more. Its growing popularity makes sure it supports the community and provides regular updates from Google and the community as well.
Cons of Flutter App Development
Nothing is perfect in this world. Flutter is not an exception. Just like every framework and programming language has its drawbacks, so does Flutter.
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The apps are too large and weighty
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Dart language is not widely popular among developers to learn
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Flutter framework sometimes does not function well on iOS platforms
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It has a limited number of third-party libraries
FlutterFlow - Revolutionizing MVP App Creation
Recently Flutter team has introduced a smart tool named FlutterFlow. It has revolutionized small businesses by helping them create robust MVPs to kickstart their product. Moreover, this tool can create fully functional MVPs that are great in speed and are highly secured. It allows users to build functional apps. At present, the functionalities included are push notifications, chats, animations, and dark/light mode.
These MVPs help startups and new businesses get investments that can improve the functionality of MVP, helping it to turn into a full-scale product. On the other hand, the development team will get a handy tool to immediately jumpstart projects and get initial feedback about their product.
Top Apps and Companies Using Flutter
Apps: Google Ads, Google Pay, eBay Motors, My BMW, Groupon
Companies: Glints, KlasterMe, Fastic, Fuse, Hamilton Musical App
What is the Future of Flutter?
Flutter has a bright future. It is rapidly gaining traction among the developers community due to its immense set of advantages and flexible features. Through its latest version Flutter 3.10, it supports hot reloading for Windows apps and also provides improved debugging tools. Similarly, according to the user requirements, Flutter helps integrate new features and functionalities. This is making Flutter more powerful and versatile. With its thriving community, Flutter has established itself as the most innovative technology for startups and enterprises to build exceptional cross-platform applications.
Hire Flutter App Developers From Whitelotus Corporation
Whitelotus Corporation is the leading mobile app development company, having talented engineers and developers who can deliver exceptional Flutter applications. We know the best ways to leverage this technology and help you get the maximum benefits for your business. We have provided numerous solutions to our clients by creating innovative user-friendly functionalities by using Flutter. As a dynamic and well-experienced team, we are all ready to help your business expand its horizons and find the best solutions that can help you fulfill your business needs.
Hit us up if you want to discuss more about your cross-platform app development project.
FAQs
1. What are the uses of Flutter?
Flutter is used for building cross-platform applications. It works within a single codebase and uses native code for rendering on each platform. Flutter can enhance the speedier development process and is a cost-efficient alternative.
2. What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source cross-platform framework created by Google. It can create highly functional and fully-featured cross-platform applications for multiple platforms like iOS, Android, or MacOS.
3. What kind of programming language does Flutter use?
Flutter uses Dart programming language for making rudimentary codes. It is the base for building any kind of cross-platform app.
4. Is Flutter better than React Native?
It completely depends on the kind of project you want to create. Compared to React Native, Flutter is a faster and more cost-efficient choice. It is most suitable for building MVPs within the lowest possible timeline.
