Technology across the board is an ever-changing and developing space. And with the ever-increasing use of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. The future of mobile application development is an area that more and more businesses are turning to to connect with their customers and target demographic.
And one player in the mobile app development space that has a bright future is Flutter. Flutter is a mobile app framework developed by Google and released in 2017. Based on Dart programming language, Flutter is a cross-platform technology that works across all popular operating systems like Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux.
With prominent names like BMW, eBay, and Crowdsource using Flutter, there is a lot going for this rapidly growing framework.
Below, we take a brief dive into exactly why Flutter is the future of mobile development.
Why is Flutter the Future of Mobile Development?
There is a multitude of reasons that flutter for mobile app development in 2022 and beyond. From using the same code across platforms to its quick and easy maintenance, Flutter offers developers a lot to work with.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most prominent reasons that Flutter is a standout within the mobile app development space and why it’s such a rapidly growing framework.
A Single Codebase
In the wide world of UI kits and frameworks that are available, Flutter stands apart from the rest due to the fact that it features a single codebase. Other frameworks require developers to create and maintain different codes for the same app across all platforms.
But Flutter allows developers to develop one code that is used across all platforms.
This single codebase makes for a reduced workload on the part of the developers. Developers can develop, create, and test apps much more quickly with a single codebase.
This also serves to benefit business owners who get to see their apps launched quicker as opposed to frameworks without a single codebase.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
With its single codebase, Flutter makes it easy for cross-platform app development to happen. Developers can easily build and launch natively created mobile apps for all platforms – from iOS and Android to desktop and the web all with one codebase.
And with both Android and iOS have a major hold on the mobile market (Android holds a leading position. With a 70% share of the global mobile OS market as of August 2022). Cross-platform compatibility allows developers to work on both platforms at once.
Cross-platform compatibility can also reduce some of the time needed to develop a mobile app, making for quicker development overall.
Customizable Widgets
Flutter simplifies the mobile app development process, allowing developers to focus on creating standout user-friendly interfaces. With a host of widgets accessible for use, Flutter really places an emphasis on creating a user interface that is customizable across the board.
Widgets are essentially the building blocks of any app created with Flutter. There are 14 widget categories that range from interaction models and layouts to accessibility widgets. Developers can start the user interface design process with already existing widgets or they can easily create their own as well.
And Flutter’s widget inspector makes for a powerful tool that gives developers a visual look. At the widgets they are using in tree mode. The widget inspector can be used for diagnosing existing layout issues and to better understand any existing layouts.
Easy Maintenance
Mobile apps developed with Flutter are extremely easy to maintain. Thanks to the single errors, or bugs. Issues that can arise from an app are easy to fix and keep track of during maintenance.
The single codebase provides developers with streamlined maintenance. Process that cuts back on certain maintenance steps that may otherwise be needed for other frameworks. Such as working with multiple codes across different platforms.
For example, if your mobile app is available on iOS and Android. Any maintenance done for both platforms can be completed in one go. The single codebase completely cuts the need to perform maintenance twice in this scenario.
Hot Reloading
As we can see, Flutter is a fast framework.
That focus on faster development time is also reflected in Flutter’s hot reload feature. The hot reload feature allows developers to “quickly and easily experiment, build UIs, add features, and fix bugs.” Developers have come to find this feature especially critical during the development process, especially as all updates are immediately reflected in the app.
Hot reload, once updates have been made, effectively preserves the state of the app as it was running prior to the hot reload. This keeps the app up and running while experiments are completed, updates are made, and bugs are addressed.
Hot reload helps keep the Flutter development process quick, streamlined, and efficient – keeping Flutter at the front of the pack of mobile app frameworks.
About the Author
Split Reef is a top-rated digital marketing and digital development agency with offices based in Jacksonville, Florida and Columbus, Ohio. With a highly technical and experienced team at the ready, they offer a full suite of services to clients across all industries including custom web application development, professional local SEO services, ADA compliance, reputation management, and more. Custom IOS app development by Split Reef has made them a leader in the industry as they work to provide clients with cutting-edge applications. You can connect with them online or over the phone to learn more.
