Skip to content
Noroff Case Studies

Flutter Case Study

Author: Kristine M-B <kribac12>

Introduction

Flutter is Google’s open-source framework for building applications that run smoothly across phones, computers, and web browsers from a single codebase. It goes beyond a traditional UI toolkit by offering a comprehensive solution for developing natively compiled, multi-platform applications. This approach not only streamlines the development process by eliminating the need for different code for various operating systems but also significantly boosts efficiency and versatility in the app development landscape. Notable companies such as Alibaba, Google, and BMW have utilized Flutter, showcasing its broad utility and robust performance across a variety of applications.

Brief History

  • 2017: Google introduces Flutter in its Beta version, targeting versatile mobile app creation.
  • 2018: The first full version, Flutter 1.0, is released, bringing stability and new features for high-quality iOS and Android app development.
  • 2020: Flutter 1.17 and 1.20 launch, focusing on performance improvements, reduced app sizes and enhanced UI capabilities, including additional Material widgets.
  • 2021: Flutter 2 introduces stable web support, marking a significant expansion of Flutter’s capabilities to include web, mobile, and desktop applications.
  • 2022: Flutter 3 boosts support for macOS and Linux, alongside improvements in null safety and better desktop integration.
  • 2023- : Ongoing updates continue to developer tools and workflows, introduce more customizable widgets, and continue to build a supportive user community.

Main Features

  • Single Codebase: Enables development for both iOS and Android platforms using the same set of code.
  • Dart Programming Language: Dart’s combination of object-oriented and functional programming styles makes it versatile and powerful for app development.
  • Hot Reload: Offers real-time view of changes, streamlining the development process.
  • Widgets: Provides a rich set of customizable widgets to create complex UIs with a native performance feel.
  • Third-party Libraries: Flutter’s growing library of third-party packages expands its capabilities in areas like state management, database integration, and networking.

Market Comparison

Compared to Native App Development

  • Faster Development: Unlike native development, where iOS and Android apps are developed separately, Flutter uses a single codebase, significantly speeding up the process.
  • Resource Efficiency: Reduces or eliminates the need for separate developer teams for different platforms, as the same group of developers can build and maintain apps across platforms.

Compared to Other Cross-Platform Tools

  • React Native: While React Native, developed by Facebook, allows for native component usage and has a vast community, Flutter provides more consistent performance across platforms. This consistency is due to Flutter’s direct management of the rendering process with the Dart framework, eliminating the performance slowdowns often associated with React Native’s JavaScript bridge. Furthermore, Flutter’s robust ‘Hot Reload’ feature streamlines the development process.

  • Xamarin: Unlike Xamarin, a Microsoft-backed framework that uses C# for app development, Flutter offers a more dynamic range of UI widgets and faster rendering performance, particularly noticeable in visually intensive apps. Also, Flutter’s single codebase approach ensures UI consistency across platforms, a contrast to Xamarin’s occasional need for platform-specific UI coding.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Rapid Development Cycle with Hot Reload: Flutter’s hot reload feature allows developers to see the effects of their changes in real-time without restarting the app, which not only speeds up development process and enhances productivity, but also encourages experimenting with design.
  • Optimized Performance and Rendering: Thanks to its compilation into native ARM code and the use of the Skia graphics engine, Flutter delivers high runtime efficiency and responsiveness. High frame rates and smooth animations contribute to a seamless user interface experience, rivaling native app performance.
  • Advanced UI and Customization: Because of Flutter’s comprehensive set of widgets and options for customization, it is a great choice for projects requiring complex layouts, as well as unique animations and design features. Flutter supports Cupertino widgets and Material Design, providing apps with a native appearance and feel.
  • Large and Growing Community Support: Flutter has quickly amassed a large and active developer community, which contributes to with a wide array of resources such as libraries, tools and tutorials, making it easier for new developers to begin using Flutter and for existing developers to find support.

Weaknesses

  • Relatively Large App Size: Compared to native apps, Flutter applications tend to be large in size. This can lead to longer download times and consume more storage space, which might be a significant concern in regions with limited internet bandwidth or on devices with constrained storage capacity.
  • Learning Curve for Dart: Dart, while a versatile and efficient programming language, is not as widely known as languages like JavaScript or C#. Newcomers to Flutter might require additional time to become proficient in Dart. However, the language’s resemblance to Java and C# can ease this transition, and the abundance of learning resources available online helps to flatten the learning curve.
  • Smaller Ecosystem and Fewer Libraries: Flutter’s ecosystem, though rapidly growing, is still smaller compared to more mature frameworks like React Native. This means there may be fewer third-party libraries and tools available for specific needs, potentially requiring more custom development work. However, the active and growing community is continuously contributing to expanding Flutter’s library and package offerings, significantly reducing the gap.
  • Native-Specific Features Limitation: Some platform-specific features might be less straightforward to implement in Flutter and could require additional native code integration. The community and Flutter team are actively working on simplifying these processes, providing clear documentation and creating plugins that make incorporating native functionality easier and more intuitive.

Getting Started

  1. Install Flutter:

    Go to Flutter’s installation guide and choose your development platform for a detailed installation guide. This guide will walk you through installing the required tools and packages specific to your platform.

  2. Download and Extract the Flutter SDK:

    Download Flutter SDK from the website, and extract the downloaded zip file to a location on your machine.

  3. Update Your Path:

    Update your path by adding the Flutter bin directory to your PATH environment variable.

  4. Set Up Your Development Environment:

    Install an IDE if you don’t have one, as well as Flutter and Dart Plugins. For Visual Studio Code(VSC), you can easily add Flutter support by installing the Flutter extension, which includes support for Dart.

  5. Create and Run a Flutter Project:

    Create a Flutter project and run it. In VSC, go to File > New > New Flutter Project and follow the prompts to create your project. To run your app, ensure you have an emulator running or a device connected, then enter flutter run in the terminal within your project directory. This compiles your app and launches it on the emulator or device.

  6. Learn Dart Fundamentals:

    Dart is the core programming language used for Flutter development, and it’s essential to learn its syntax and features to build more dynamic and complex applications. If you are new to Dart, visit Dart’s official website for tutorials and documentation.

  7. Learn the Basics of Flutter:

    Familiarize yourself with the foundational elements of Flutter. Explore the Flutter Widget Catalog, learn about state management and follow tutorials on Flutter’s official website.

  8. Start a Project:

    With a solid understanding of Dart and Flutter, you are ready to build a simple project, experimenting with widgets, layouts, and basic functionality.

Conclusion

In the rapidly evolving world of app development, Flutter stands out for its unified solution for creating high-performance, visually appealing applications across platforms with a single codebase. Its unique approach to UI design, coupled with the power of the Dart programming language, positions Flutter as an increasingly popular choice for developers worldwide. As its ecosystem grows and becomes more robust, Flutter simplifies cross-platform development, making it a preferred choice for developers aiming for efficiency without compromising on quality. Looking ahead, Flutter shows a clear commitment and promise to remain an important resource for developers seeking to build versatile and impactful applications.

References

Additional resources