Tag: flutter app development

Why Choose Flutter for Hybrid Mobile App Development?

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

Flutter is an open-source UI framework developed by Google. It empowers developers to build native mobile, web and desktop applications from a single codebase.

It is one of the most fast evolving tools for creating cross-platform applications. Flutter developers use it to build stunning cross-platform apps which can render native code on each of the devices such as iOS and Android.

Moreover, Flutter is compatible with Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS and Windows. In 2023, It will be the best platform for hybrid mobile app development. 

In this article, we will discuss top 10 reasons that make Flutter the best hybrid mobile app development technology

What is Flutter?

Flutter, at its core, is a UI toolkit that enables app developers to create apps that natively compile in their respective OS platforms such as mobile, web and desktop from a single codebase.

Flutter app development uses the Dart programming language, offering a rich set of pre-designed widgets that make the development process faster and more efficient.

Reasons to Choose Flutter for Hybrid Mobile App Development

  • Cross-Platform Development

Flutter is the hottest mobile app development technology for its ability to create apps for multiple platforms from a single codebase.

Write the code once and run the various apps natively such as iOS, Android, and web apps. 

This approach in flutter app development saves time, effort, and resources by eliminating the need to build separate apps for different platforms.

  • Fast Development and Hot Reload

Flutter’s “hot reload” feature is a game-changer for developers. Flutter developers have the advantage of making real-time code changes without restarting the application thereby making development faster and more efficient.

This feature significantly accelerates the development cycle and reduces debugging time.

  • Stunning User Interfaces

Flutter app development provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets and offers complete freedom to create custom widgets.

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This suggests that developers can craft stunning, pixel-perfect apps with awesome user interfaces that run natively on both iOS and Android platforms. 

  • High Performance

Its performance is exceptional, thanks to its core engine, Dart. Apps developed on Flutter compile like native code thereby ensuring that apps run smoothly and web apps provide a responsive user experience.

This performance boost is especially important for graphics-intensive applications.

  • Strong Community and Ecosystem

There has been a rapidly growing community of flutter app developers, which means access to a wealth of resources, plugins, and packages.

Because it is backed by such a strong community developers find solutions to common problems rather easily which also makes sharing of knowledge more effective.  

  • Cost-Effective Development

With a single codebase, you reduce development and maintenance costs. This makes Flutter a cost-effective solution, especially for startups and businesses on a budget.

  • Expressive UI

Full stack flutter app developers create expressive and innovative user interfaces. This enables the development of unique, visually appealing apps that stand out in the crowded app market.

  • Compatibility with Existing Code

You don’t have to start from scratch when choosing UI software. It is a highly flexible platform which can be integrated to your existing codebase.

So if you need to transition your codebase from your existing technology to this framework, you can do it rather easily. 

  • Comprehensive Documentation

Flutter’s documentation is thorough and continuously updated, which empowers developers to easily learn and implement the latest features in the framework effectively. 

  • App Store Success

Many successful apps have been built using Flutter, including Alibaba, Google Ads, and more. This demonstrates that Flutter can produce top-tier, high-performing applications.

Top Things To Consider When Choosing Flutter App Developer

  • Experience with This UI Software

The first and most crucial factor is to evaluate the developer’s experience with This open source UI software. Look for developers who have a proven track record of working with the framework and have successfully delivered Flutter apps. Check their portfolio for relevant projects.

  • Cross-Platform Expertise

Flutter is known for its cross-platform capabilities. When hiring a Flutter development team you should ensure that the developers you hire have the expertise in building apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. Experience with other cross-platform tools is an added advantage. 

  • Proficiency in Dart

Dart is the programming language used in Flutter. Developers should be proficient in Dart to effectively utilize Flutter’s capabilities. Dart’s syntax and structure are unique, so look for developers with experience in this language.

  • UI/UX Design Skills

A key advantage of Flutter is its ability to create visually appealing and responsive user interfaces. Check if the developers have strong UI/UX design skills to ensure your app looks and feels native on both platforms.

  • Hot Reload Experience

Flutter’s “hot reload” feature is a game-changer for app development. It allows real-time code changes without restarting the application.

Businesses should seek developers who are familiar with this feature as it significantly speeds up the development and debugging process. 

  • Performance Optimization

Flutter apps are known for their performance, but it’s essential to choose developers who understand how to optimize the app for speed and responsiveness, especially in graphics-intensive applications.

  • Plugin Integration

Developers should be capable of integrating various plugins and packages available in the Flutter ecosystem. This is crucial for adding additional functionalities to your app efficiently.

  • Compatibility with Native Code

If you plan to integrate your Flutter app with existing native code, ensure that the developers have experience with such integrations.

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This is common in cases where you already have a native app and wish to expand it with Flutter.

  • Cost Considerations

Consider your budget and the rates of the developers. Focus on the overall value and expertise offered by the developers.

  • Project Timeline

Discuss the expected project timeline with the developers. Ask your Futtler development team for an estimate of project delivery i.e. how long it will take to develop and launch your app. This is important for planning and aligning your app with market demands.

  • Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication and collaboration are vital for a successful development process. Ensure that the developers are accessible, transparent, and willing to work closely with you throughout the project.

  • Client Testimonials and References

Ask for client testimonials or references from the developers. Hearing about their past clients’ experiences can provide valuable insights into their professionalism and the quality of their work.

  • Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Inquire about the developers’ willingness to provide ongoing support and maintenance for your app after the initial development. Your development team must provide post-launch maintenance which is crucial for keeping your app up-to-date and bug-free.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Flutter opens up a world of possibilities for hybrid mobile app development. Its flexibility and performance make it the most opted cross-platform development technology for developers who want to create stunning apps across various platforms. 

By mastering Flutter’s fundamentals, exploring advanced features, and staying updated with the community, you can embark on a successful app development journey.

FAQs

Is Flutter suitable for beginners in app development?

Absolutely! Flutter’s intuitive interface and hot reload feature make it beginner-friendly, allowing developers to see changes instantly and learn through hands-on experience.

Can Flutter apps access device hardware like cameras and sensors?

Yes, UI apps can access device hardware using plugins. There are numerous plugins available that enable Flutter apps to utilize device features like cameras, sensors, and GPS.

Is it possible to create complex animations with Flutter?

Yes! Flutter provides a ton of frameworks to create detailed animation and animation transitions that enhances the overall user experience of the app. 

Does Flutter support integration with backend technologies and databases?

Yes, this UI software supports integration with various backend technologies and databases. Developers can make API calls, handle responses, and interact with databases to fetch and store data in Flutter apps.

What kind of support does Flutter offer for internationalization and localization?

It has excellent support for internationalization and localization. Developers can easily translate their app’s content into multiple languages, ensuring a global audience can use the app effectively.

What Makes Flutter the Best Cross-Platform for Mobile App Development ?

Posted on by Jay

Mobile app development is rapidly evolving, tech companies around the world are releasing disruptive cross-platform technologies making it easier and efficient to craft stunning mobile apps.

Flutter app development is one such cross-platform technology that has taken the industry by storm.

Flutter, created by Google, is an open-source UI software development toolkit that allows developers to create native apps for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

This means that with Flutter, developers can build stunning and high-performance apps for iOS, Android, and more, using a single codebase. This ability greatly streamlines the development process and enhances consistency across platforms.

An Introduction to the Widget-Based Flutter Architecture

An Introduction to the Widget-Based Flutter Architecture

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  1. Widget-Based Architecture:

At the heart of Flutter development architecture is its widget-based approach. In Flutter, everything is a widget – from the smallest UI elements like buttons and text to entire complex layouts.

This includes both the visual components that users see and the structural components that define the app’s behaviour.

This concept of encapsulating different parts of an app’s UI and functionality as widgets enables Flutter app developers to simplify the development process and promotes code reusability.

  • Stateless Widgets:

Stateless widgets are immutable, meaning they don’t change over time or in response to user interactions.

They represent the static elements of an app’s user interface, like icons, text labels, and images.

Since these widgets do not have internal state, they can be thought of as pure functions that take input and return UI elements based on that input.

  • Stateful Widgets:

Stateful widgets, on the other hand, are mutable and can change their appearance or behaviour over time.

These widgets are used to manage dynamic user interactions, such as updating the display when a user taps a button or enters data into a text field.

Stateful widgets maintain a “state” object that can be updated, triggering the widget tree to rebuild and reflect the changes.

  1. Widget Tree and Element Tree:

The widget-based architecture forms a hierarchical structure known as the “Widget Tree.”

The Widget Tree represents the arrangement of widgets within the app’s user interface. It defines how widgets are nested within each other and establishes the visual hierarchy of the app.

When the app is run, it takes the Widget Tree and converts it into an “Element Tree.” Elements are an optimized representation of widgets and form the basis for rendering.

Flutter’s rendering engine then uses the Element Tree to efficiently paint the UI on the screen.

  1. Reconciliation and “Hot Reload”:

One of the standout features of Flutter’s architecture is its reconciliation process.

When changes are made to the Widget Tree – for example, when a user interacts with an element – it efficiently calculates the difference between the previous and updated trees.

This process is known as “reconciliation” or “diffing,” and it ensures that only the necessary parts of the UI are updated, optimizing performance.

Moreover, it’s “Hot Reload” feature is closely tied to its architecture.

Hot Reload allows Flutter app developers to make changes to the code and instantly see the results in the app without restarting it.

This rapid iteration cycle enhances productivity and expedites the development process.

  1. Platform Channels and Native Integration:

While the platform aims to provide a consistent experience across platforms, it also acknowledges the need for platform-specific features and capabilities. To achieve this, Flutter incorporates “platform channels.”

These channels allow the code to communicate with native code written in languages like Java (for Android) and Swift (for iOS).

This way, developers can access native device functionalities and seamlessly integrate platform-specific features while still maintaining the majority of the codebase.

What is Flutter Used For?

What is Flutter Used For

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  1. Mobile App Development:

Flutter is most renowned for mobile app development. Developers can create high-quality, visually appealing, and performant apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase.

This significantly reduces development time and resources while maintaining a consistent user experience across platforms.

  1. Web App Development:

With the introduction of the platform for web, developers can build interactive and dynamic Flutter web applications using the same codebase as their mobile apps.

This provides a seamless experience for users across different devices and platforms.

  1. Desktop App Development:

Its adaptability extends to desktop platforms as well. Developers can use the platform to create native desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

This enables the development of cross-platform desktop apps with a unified codebase.

  1. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs):

The mobile app development platform enables the creation of Progressive Web Apps, which are web applications that offer an app-like experience to users.

PWAs can be installed on users’ devices and provide offline access, push notifications, and other native-like features.

  1. Embedded Systems:

Its lightweight nature and versatile architecture make it suitable for developing applications for embedded systems, such as IoT devices and smart appliances.

  1. MVPs and Prototypes:

For startups and businesses aiming to validate their ideas quickly, Flutter rapid development capabilities and Hot Reload feature are beneficial for building minimum viable products (MVPs) and prototypes.

  1. Cross-Platform Solutions:

Companies looking to launch their apps on multiple platforms simultaneously benefit from Flutter cross-platform app development features.

This not only reduces development time but also maintains a consistent app experience across various devices.

  1. Enterprise Applications:

It can be used to develop enterprise-level applications, such as CRM systems, project management tools, and internal communication platforms.

Its performance, customization options, and cross-platform capabilities cater well to the needs of modern businesses.

  1. Gaming and Interactive Apps:

Although it is not primarily designed for heavy gaming, it can still be used to create lightweight games and interactive applications with simple animations and graphics.

  1. Educational Apps:

The cross platform app development platfom’s user-friendly UI capabilities make it suitable for developing educational apps, interactive learning platforms, and e-learning applications that engage users through dynamic content.

  1. Social Media Apps:

The flexibility and customizable UI components of Flutter make it a good choice for creating visually appealing social media apps with features like news feeds, user profiles, and real-time updates.

What are the Drawbacks of Flutter App Development?

What are the Drawbacks of Flutter App Development

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  1. Large App Size:

Flutter mobile apps can have a larger file size compared to native apps due to the inclusion of the Flutter engine and various widgets.

This might result in longer download times, particularly for users on slower connections.

  1. Limited Native Functionality:

While the mobile app development platform provides a wide range of pre-built widgets, there might be cases where you need to access platform-specific features or interact with native APIs.

Although the platform channels enable communication with native code, it can introduce complexity and require additional development effort.

  1. Learning Curve:

If your development team is not already familiar with Dart (Flutter’s programming language) or the widget-based architecture, there might be a learning curve involved in getting up to speed with Flutter’s concepts and best practices.

  1. Less Mature Ecosystem:

While the ecosystem is growing rapidly, it might not yet have as many third-party libraries, plugins, and tools available as more established frameworks.

This can potentially lead to challenges if you’re looking for specific functionalities that aren’t readily available.

  1. Limited Access to Native Design Patterns:

It has its own design language known as “Material Design” for Android and “Cupertino” for iOS.

While these design patterns provide a consistent look and feel across platforms, they might not fully align with the native design guidelines of each platform, which could be a concern for some applications.

  1. Platform-Dependent Bugs:

Since it renders its own UI components, there might be cases where platform-specific bugs or inconsistencies arise.

This could result in certain issues not present in native applications.

  1. SEO Challenges:

While ‘Flutter for web’ allows you to create web applications, the SEO (search engine optimization) capabilities might not be as strong as those of traditional web frameworks. This could affect the discoverability of your web app.

  1. Limited Access to Low-Level APIs:

For applications requiring deep integration with low-level hardware features or specialized libraries, Its abstraction might limit access to certain APIs or functionalities.

  1. Continuous Updates:

The rapid evolution of Flutter app development means that you need to keep up with frequent updates and changes to the framework.

While updates often bring improvements, they can also introduce compatibility issues with existing code.

  1. Not Ideal for Intensive 3D or Graphics Applications:

It’s important to carefully assess these drawbacks against the benefits and requirements of your project.

In many cases, the advantages of the hybrid app development platform might outweigh these challenges, but it’s crucial to make an informed decision based on your project’s unique needs and constraints.

Top 10 Apps Developed Using Flutter

  • Google Ads:
    Google Ads is an advertising platform used by businesses to promote their products and services. Google itself recognizes the potential and has developed parts of the Google Ads app using Flutter.
  • Alibaba:
    The Alibaba Group, a global e-commerce giant, used Flutter to create the Xianyu app. This app is designed for online shopping, showcasing its versatility in the e-commerce domain.
  • Reflectly:
    Reflectly is a popular mindfulness and journaling app. It utilizes its capabilities to provide an intuitive and visually pleasing user interface for users to journal their thoughts and emotions.
  • Hamilton Musical:
    The official app for the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” was developed using Flutter. It demonstrates how it can be used to create immersive and interactive experiences for users.
  • Dream11:
    Dream11 is a well-known fantasy sports app that allows users to create virtual teams and compete in real sports leagues. The app’s dynamic and responsive UI is powered by Flutter.
  • PostMuse:
    PostMuse is a social media app that enables users to create and share visually appealing posts on various platforms. The app’s design and animations are a testament to its capabilities.
  • Hookle:
    Hookle is a social media app designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners to manage their social media presence. It combines features like posting, scheduling, and analytics in a Flutter-powered interface.
  • Cryptograph:
    Cryptograph is a cryptocurrency tracking app that provides users with real-time updates and data on various cryptocurrencies. Its performance is utilized to display dynamic graphs and charts.
  • NuBank:
    NuBank, a popular fintech company in Brazil, uses Flutter to build parts of their mobile app. The app offers digital banking services to its users and showcases its capabilities in the finance sector.

What Makes Flutter The Best Mobile App Development Platform for Business Owners?

  1. Faster Time-to-Market:

Developing with Flutter significantly reduces the time required to build and launch apps on multiple platforms.

With a single codebase for iOS, Android, and potentially more, you can simultaneously target a wider audience and expedite your time-to-market.

  1. Cost-Efficiency:

Maintaining separate development teams for different platforms can be costly.

Its cross-platform mobile app development approach streamlines development, thereby reducing labour and operational expenses, making it an economically smart choice for businesses.

  1. Consistent Branding:

Flutter ensures a consistent user experience across various platforms.

Your app’s branding, design, and features remain cohesive, reinforcing your brand identity and offering a seamless experience to users.

  1. High-Quality User Experience:

Its widgets and customizable UI components enable Flutter developers to create visually appealing and engaging user interfaces.

This enhances the overall user experience, which is essential for customer satisfaction and retention.

  1. Rapid Development and Iteration:

The Hot Reload feature allows developers to instantly view code changes in the app, speeding up debugging, testing, and refining the app’s features. This rapid iteration cycle supports quick adjustments to meet changing business needs.

  1. Wider Audience Reach:

By creating apps for iOS and Android simultaneously, you maximize your audience reach. This is especially advantageous for startups and businesses aiming to expand their user base quickly.

  1. Engaging User Interfaces:

With Flutter, you can create captivating animations and dynamic interfaces that capture users’ attention, fostering user engagement and encouraging longer app usage.

  1. Responsive Customer Support:

Due to its active community, Flutter benefits from continuous updates, bug fixes, and a vast repository of resources.

This provides a reliable support network for businesses during and after app development.

  1. Adaptable for Various App Types:

Flutter is not restricted to a specific type of app. Whether you’re building e-commerce platforms, social networking apps, utilities, or more complex applications, its versatility allows it to cater to your business’s needs.

  1. Flexibility for Future Growth:

As your business evolves, you might want to expand your app’s functionality or target new platforms. Its adaptability allows you to scale your app to meet future demands.

Top Trends in Flutter App development to follow in 2023

  • Increasing Popularity:
    Flutter’s popularity has been on the rise since its introduction, with a growing number of developers and companies adopting it for app development due to its advantages in cross-platform development.
  • Active Community:
    It benefits from a vibrant and active community of developers, contributing to its growth through open-source projects, plugins, and helpful resources.
  • Growing Number of Apps:
    The number of apps developed using the cross-platform technology has been increasing steadily across various domains, including e-commerce, social networking, finance, and more.
  • Integration with Web and Desktop:
    The addition of web, desktop platforms has expanded its use cases, making it more versatile for creating multi-platform applications.
  • Strong Google Support:
    Google’s continued backing and investment in Flutter development indicate its commitment to the framework’s long-term growth.
  • Third-Party Packages:
    The ecosystem has seen the development of a wide range of third-party packages, aiding developers with pre-built solutions for common functionalities and components.
  • Enterprise Adoption:
    Larger enterprises and businesses have started to recognize the benefits of Flutter, leading to its adoption in various industries and sectors.
  • Performance Improvements:
    The team consistently works on improving performance, with each update bringing optimizations that enhance app responsiveness and speed.
  • Cross-Platform Dominance:
    The convenience of building for multiple platforms from a single codebase continues to drive its popularity, especially for startups and businesses looking to minimize development costs and time.

Top 5 Flutter App Development Companies

Andolasoft:

Andolasoft is a leading Flutter app development company that offers web, mobile, cross-platform and hybrid app development services.

With expertise in various technologies, Andolasoft focuses on delivering end-to-end solutions to businesses of different sizes.

They provide a comprehensive range of services starting from app conceptualization to design, development and post-deployment marketing services.

Comprehensive Flutter Development Services Offered by Andolasoft

  • Custom App Development
  • API Document and Integration
  • Flutter App Consulting
  • Support and Maintenance
  • Migration and API Integration
  • MVP Development
  • Flutter App Debugging and Testing
  • UI/UX Design

Droids on Roids:

Droids on Roids is a mobile app development company known for its expertise in building innovative and user-centric applications.

They specialize in both iOS and Android app development, including Flutter.

The company has a team of skilled developers, designers, and product managers who work together to create high-quality mobile experiences.

CreateThrive:

CreateThrive is a digital product agency that offers a wide range of services, including mobile app development using Flutter.

They emphasize a user-centered approach, focusing on understanding the client’s needs and delivering solutions that align with business goals.

CreateThrive aims to create applications that drive growth and success.

Merixstudio:

Merixstudio is a software development company specializing in web and mobile app development, design, and consulting services.

While primarily focused on web technologies, Merixstudio also offers Flutter app development to create cross-platform solutions that provide a consistent experience across different devices.

Somnio Software:

Somnio Software is a development agency that provides various services, including mobile app development using technologies like Flutter.

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They aim to build applications that are user-friendly, innovative, and tailored to meet the needs of their clients’ businesses.

Their expertise extends to both UI/UX design and backend development.

Top Things to Consider Before Hiring a Flutter App Development Company

  1. Expertise in Flutter:

Verify the company’s expertise in Flutter development. Look for a team that has experience working with the framework, understands its nuances, and can effectively leverage its features to create high-quality apps.

  1. Portfolio and Case Studies:

Review the company’s portfolio and case studies. This will give you insight into their previous projects, the industries they’ve worked in, and the types of apps they’ve developed using Flutter.

  1. Client Reviews and References:

Seek out client reviews and testimonials. Ask the company for references you can contact to learn about their experience working with the development team, communication, project management, and overall satisfaction.

  1. Technical Proficiency:

Assess the technical skills of the development team. They should be capable of handling your app’s requirements, including any complex functionalities, integrations, and customization needs.

  1. Communication and Collaboration:

Effective communication is key to a successful partnership. Ensure that the company communicates clearly, understands your project’s goals, and collaborates effectively with your team.

  1. Quality Assurance Practices:

Ask about the company’s quality assurance practices. A robust testing process ensures that your app is bug-free, stable, and provides a seamless user experience.

  1. Design Capabilities:

Design is a crucial aspect of your app, so evaluate the company’s design capabilities. They should be able to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces that align with your brand.

  1. Support and Maintenance:

Discuss post-launch support and maintenance. A reliable development partner should offer ongoing support, updates, and fixes to ensure your app remains functional and up to date.

  1. Project Flexibility:

Consider how flexible the company is in accommodating changes or additions to the project scope. Projects can evolve, so having a development partner that can adapt to your needs is valuable.

  1. Cost and Budget:

While cost is a consideration, focus on the value the company provides rather than solely on the lowest price. Aim to strike a balance between quality and budget.

  1. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA):

If your app idea involves proprietary information, ensure the company is willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect your intellectual property.

  1. Legal and Contractual Details:

Carefully review the contract terms, including ownership of the source code, payment schedules, project milestones, and any warranties provided.

  1. Transparent Pricing:

Seek a company that provides transparent pricing, including a breakdown of costs for different development stages and any additional charges that might arise.

Conclusion

In a world where mobile app development is pivotal for business success, Flutter stands out as a game-changing framework.

Its single codebase, exceptional UI capabilities, and wide-ranging platform support make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to create high-performance, visually appealing apps.

Despite a few limitations, the benefits that Flutter offers undoubtedly position it as one of the best cross-platform mobile app development platforms available today.

FAQs

Q: Is Flutter suitable for complex app development?

A: Absolutely! Flutter’s flexibility and rich widget library make it a strong candidate for developing complex and feature-rich applications.

Q: Can I use Flutter for web and desktop app development?

A: Yes, Flutter has extensions that allow you to develop for the web and desktop platforms alongside mobile.

Q: What is the difference between Flutter and other frameworks like React Native?

A: While both Flutter and React Native are popular for cross-platform app development, Flutter provides a more consistent UI and allows for faster development with its “Hot Reload” feature.

Q: Are Flutter apps slower since they are compiled to native code?

A: No, Flutter apps are compiled to highly efficient native ARM code, which ensures excellent performance comparable to natively developed apps.

Q: Is Flutter a good choice for startups with limited resources?

A: Yes, Flutter can be an excellent choice for startups as it allows them to build apps for multiple platforms with a smaller development team, thus saving resources.

An Introduction To BuildContext In Flutter and It’s Importance?

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

BuildContext is the object that stores information about the current build. It provides information such as the minimum and maximum supported Flutter version, the device’s screen size and pixel density, the currently active theme, and more.

The BuildContext is the set of inputs that Flutter uses to create an instance of a widget. It includes properties on the Android and iOS platforms, as well as properties related to the current device and environment.

It can be used to customize the behavior and appearance of your widget, but it’s important to understand how it works in order to avoid any issues.

For instance, you can use BuildContext.host () to get a string that specifies the current app’s host name. You can also use BuildContext.local (context).emulator so you can set up an emulator for testing your app on different devices without needing to change settings in Android Studio every time you want to switch emulators.

Flutter is one of the hottest technologies for cross-platform mobile development. It has been described as a new contender in the app development industry, competing with traditional frameworks like React Native and Xamarin.

Flutter builds on Google’s own Dart programming language and provides a library of scalable, customizable UI widgets to help developers build beautiful native interfaces that run across all platforms. It has been designed to help developers build high-quality, natively compiled apps that run on both Android and iOS from one codebase.

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What is a BuildContext?

The BuildContext is a locator that is used to point the location of the widget in the widget tree.

In Flutter we have to create widgets through the build method & we have to pass the BuildContext as an argument to the build method.

Each BuildContext is different for every widget. Each widget you create has its own BuildContext and they can locate themselves in the widget tree or reach out to the nearest widget.

This is how we create a widget

[code language=”css”]
Widget build (BuildContext context)=> MyAwesomeWidget();
[/code]

Flutter widget tree

Everything in Flutter is a widget. Whether it is a container, providers, text, button, image etc. everything is a widget, whether it reflects the UI in the app or not.

The UI or display in Flutter comprises stacks of widgets popularly called a widget tree. Each component is responsible for a small unit of the entire UI.

Flutter widget tree

The above image is an example of a widget tree in Flutter. We can observe that every widget has its own place in the widget tree i.e. the Button widget is under column widget.

Widgets are only visible to its BuildContext or to its parent’s BuildContext. That means we can locate the parent widget from the child widget. For the above image tree structure we can get Scaffold from Container by going up:

[code language=”css”]
context.ancestorWidgetOfExactType(Scaffold)
[/code]

You can also locate a child widget from a parent widget and for that, we use Inherited Widgets.

There are three main trees in Flutter:

  1. Widget
  2. Element
  3. Render

Widget

Widgets are immutable, they represent the structure for RenderObjects Fluorescence is optimized, which can easily create and destroy widgets without any significant performance implications.

The same can’t be said for RenderObjects.

Element

In the middle of Widgets and RenderObjects sits elements. These act as the glue between the immutable widget layer and the mutable render layer.

As the configuration of a widget changes (for example, the user calls the set state that triggers a rebuild), the element notices incoming changes and says to the corresponding render object,

“Hey! Please update. ”

Render

RenderObjects are what the visual pieces on the screen correspond to. Their purpose is to define areas on the screen regarding their spatial dimensions. They are referenced by the element. As a consequence we are dealing with another (third) tree here: the RenderObjects together form a tree which is called Render Tree whose root node is a RenderView (being a variant of a RenderObject). The RenderObject, on the other hand, are mutable objects that do the heavy lifting of turning the configuration supplied from widgets into pixels users can see and interact with on the screen.

Unlike widgets that are cheap and can safely be created and destroyed without any significant performance implications, the same cannot be said for RenderObjects.

For this reason, whenever the configuration of a widget changes, the framework looks at the change and updates the associated RenderObject instead of creating a new one each time.

Conclusion

Understanding BuildContext is very crucial to develop applications in Flutter. This improves our knowledge on how Flutter works and helps to build apps confidently.

BuildContext is a facade that provides a consistent API for implementing custom layouts and animations. The code is platform-specific, but the abstraction weaves some of the underlying platform-specific logic out of sight. BuildContext also helps reduce the need to know about the underlying platform details when implementing custom layouts and animations.

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Flutter is an open-source mobile app SDK that is used to make a high-quality app with a beautiful and consistent user experience. Unlike native mobile development, Flutter does not require that an app has a single, complete codebase but instead lets you mix and match code for different platforms. It also provides a rich set of pre-built widgets and allows for shared state.

The BuildContext is the context in which the Flutter app is running and is used for determining where to find resources and strings. It can be thought of as the environment in which the app is being used. Flutter provides an abstract class called BuildContext that handles the loading of resources, without requiring the developer to use hardcoded paths. This abstraction is one of the things that makes flutter so easy to use.

Flutter provides a set of high-level classes to help flutter developers build reactive user interfaces. Are you looking to develop an application in flutter framework? Let’s discuss

Top Reasons Why Flutter Become A Trend In Application Development

Posted on by Jay

Flutter is one of the most dynamic and popular product that was developed by Google in the year of 2017. In the year of 2018 Flutter was introduced to mobile app developers and from there it received huge response and popularity for its ability to develop feature-rich app interfaces. It also manages to gather huge community in a very short period of time.

Flutter is a great tool from Google for creating cross-platform applications which – starting from the newest stable version – can be deployed to the web, desktop, and mobile.

Google is encouraging the Flutter as a better and easy to learn framework that allows developers to create quality maintainable solutions.  Easy, it is just the next cross-platform framework.

History of Flutter

Flutter is basically an open source UI development kit to develop cross platforms apps from a single code base. The earlier version of Flutter was known as codename “Sky” and first ran on the Android operating system. It used Dart language and at the 2015. Dart developer summit with the stated intent of being able to render consistently at 120 frames per second. Google announced Flutter Release Preview 2, which is the last big release before Flutter 1.0. On December 4, 2018. Flutter 1.0 was released at the Flutter Live event, denoting the first “stable” version of the Framework. On December 11, 2019, Flutter 1.12 was released at the Flutter Interactive event.

History of Flutter(Source – medium.com)

Lifecycle of Flutter

Lifecycle of Flutter(Source – dev.to)

Why is Flutter the best Cross-Platform Technology?

We all know Flutter is developed by Google and used Dart programming language for its development work. Because of Dart language developers love Flutter. Dart has ahead of Time Complied to fast, predictable, native code, which allows Flutter to be written in Dart.

Flutter’s Dart language is strictly types and object oriented in nature. In Flutter, the programming style is declarative and reactive.

Also Flutter has enough to showcase its reliance and efficiency. Apps like Google Ads, Reflectly, Alibaba, Hamilton, which we discussed, are the simple portrayal of Flutter’s ridiculous efficiency. These apps with millions of download and daily users, generating millions of queries per second, show the reason why these technology giants trusted Flutter with their apps.

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Some Amazing Apps Made With Flutter

Flutter has many of a plethora of applications that are increasing in multiple folds each day with large enterprises trusting flutter for their large user base apps shows the amount of trust that Flutter offers.

  • Google Ads (utility)
  • Xianyu by Alibaba (eCommerce)
  • Reflectly (Lifestyle)
  • Birch Finance (Finance)
  • Hamilton Music (Entertainment)

Why Flutter Has Become A Trend in Application Development

Today most of the prominent platforms look forward towards considering the use of development packs that are reliable as well as successful in a viable and novel way. The flutter new version itself is quite a promising framework that aids in the development of cross-platform applications. Recent stats show that Flutter is preferred by over 2 million users along with half a billion developers.

1. Proper utilization of widgets:

Apps that are using Flutter framework make use of all available features that are offered by framework concerning all of its libraries and components. Such a precise plan using restriction can be easily manipulated to develop any robust UI interface design.

2. Dynamic approach of development:

The main point of focus for using Flutter framework because of its flawless features that allow the developers to view the significant progressions made within a shorter time frame. Developers can also see the progressions of test systems, equipment, and emulators.

3. Specific Use for Cross Development Platform

Flutter app development services also allow the developers to develop flutter app that can be easily created, accumulated, coded and used on various platforms. A system like this could potentially come up with a single codebase that could cater to both IOS as well as Android development.

4. Expressive and Flexible UI:

Quickly ship features with a focus on native end-user experiences. Layered architecture allows for full customization, which results in incredibly fast rendering and expressive and flexible designs.

5. Approach for Efficient Marketing

Flutter is considered to be on the position of Hot Loading that helps in the efficient revival of the cycle of development. Also, the time that is required for keeping things under control while developing an application can be effectively utilized by the developers. It offers a significant boost to the cycle of development.

6. High Performing Applications

Flutter App development typically makes use a popular programming language called Dart, which simplifies the work of app developers, particularly while building transitions and animations.

7. Native Performance

Flutter’s widgets incorporate all critical platform differences such as scrolling, navigation, icons and fonts, and your Flutter code is compiled to native ARM machine code using Dart’s native compilers.

8. Growing Flutter Community

Flutter is continuing to see fast growth in its usage with over more than 2 million developers in the last 3 years from its release. Despite of unprecedented circumstances, in March there was 10% month-over-month growth, with nearly half a million developers now using Flutter each month.

Some interesting statistics:

  • There are approximately 90,000 Flutter apps published in the Play Store, with nearly 10,000 uploaded in the last month alone.
  • The top five territories for Flutter are India, China, the United States, the EU, and Brazil.
  • 78% of Flutter developers use the stable channel, 11% use beta, and 11% use either dev or master.

The Future of Flutter

The increasing popularity of Flutter framework telling that more and more mobile app developers are showing their interests towards Flutter. Also Flutter community is working hard to polish the framework which is already putting flutter ahead in the race. Over 2 million developers have used Flutter in the last 2 years of its release and it’s constantly growing. In these unprecedented conditions, Google saw 10% month over month growth in March, making it nearly a half a million developers using Flutter every month.

Flutter

New Features And Improvements

Flutter 2.2 is the best version of Flutter yet, with updates that make it easier than ever for developers to monetize their apps through in-app purchases, payments and ads.  Flutter API and cloud services extend apps to support new capabilities. With tooling language features Flutter allows developers to eliminate the whole class of errors, increase app performance and reduce package size.

Google continues to be the primary contributor to the Flutter project; we’re delighted to see the growth of the broader ecosystem around Flutter.

I’ve worked with the team at AndolaSoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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FAQs

Who will use Flutter?

Both developer and designers can use Flutter to give life to the apps.  For Flutter developers, it simplifies the development life cycle, speed up the development and reduces the cost. For Flutter designers, it provide canvas for high end user experience

What kinds of apps can develop with Flutter?

Flutter is designed to provide support for mobile apps on Android and IOS devices. It used single code base and generate build for Android and IOS in one click.

Apps that need high end user experience are well suited for Flutter. Its ecosystem provide wide variety of hardware support

What makes Flutter unique?

Flutter is different from other framework because of its UI widget. It used its own high rendering performance engine to draw the widgets. Its uses Dart language which is easy to learn and implement. This gives developers tremendous control over the system

Is Flutter back-end or front-end?

Flutter is basically designed for front-end development

Conclusion:

Flutter is basically the quickest framework to develop cross-platform mobile application. Flutter has bright future and huge opportunities for developers. The risk factor is also very less here compared to other cross-platform.

App development made faster with enormous UI customization potential and separate rendering engine. It is also suitable for any target platforms.  So, if you are inspired with Flutter, you can choose this as your next development framework and we are here to help you. Let’s discuss

Top 7 Reasons To Consider Flutter Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

Posted on by Codrez

As the numbers of smartphone users are increasing worldwide, which has helped many businesses and startups think of developing a robust mobile application. This helps them to stand at the top in the competitive market.

Flutter is defined as the open-source software development framework launched by Google. It has obtained high recognition in the Flutter app development market because of its unique approach. The specific framework develops apps for multiple platforms as it has got the best from both cross-platform and native development.

Based on data from 2020, there are almost 1.96 millions Flutter-based apps present in Google Play Store. This has transformed the position of India in the app development industry and enhanced the demand for mobile app development services. 

Flutter Mobile App(Source: medium)

What does Flutter provide?

  • Highly optimized apps.
  • Excellent support for text.
  • Framework with the react-style feature.
  • Have material design with a large set of widgets.
  • Perform unit and integration tests with APIs.
  • to get connected with the system and 3rd-party SDKs, consists of interop and plugin APIs. 
  • Have Dart Dev Tools for testing and debugging.
  • Presence of command-line tools for building, testing, and doing the compilation of apps.

Why to use Flutter for cross-platform app development:

There are multiple reasons behind using Flutter. With Flutter cross platform you can get several benefits such as:

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1. Single Codebase

Flutter makes it possible to use one code base for both the app platforms like Android & iOS. It makes sure to minimize your app development cost.

The number of resources required for building apps with Flutter would be less in comparison to other available platforms. Applying a single code base is a cost-effective method used by the framework to design easily manageable apps. 

2. Easy and Excellent Documentation

As Flutter has been introduced by Google, full support is available from the material design team. This has made app development tasks a lot easier for those who have just started to learn.

The framework comes with a superb documentation feature that allows developers to start a project. The documentation is understandable and helps developers to solve all possible issues they can get during the project.

3. Reusable Components:

With the cross platform the developers can write the code language once and use it again for other platforms. By using the single code, the developers get to develop iOS and Android apps.

The flutter for web has its own widgets and designs. Hence, it becomes a lot easier to create a flutter cross platform application.

4. Use Widgets

Just like other progressive languages, Flutter makes use of widgets as the core element. These widgets permit developers to find out what they’re doing with the code and save the overall development time that wastes in making basic user-interface elements for different platforms. It is the most important aspect of  Flutter that makes it beneficial and favorable for developers.

While using Flutter, developers just need to create a single UI element and it can be used for any screen. On the other hand, this saves time for Quality specialists, as they wouldn’t have to perform the testing for the Flutter mobile app design on different devices with different screens sizes.

Flutter contains the widget toolkit, but all components perform natively. It gives a native app-like experience and boosts performance. To get the best experience with Flutter, you can even take mobile app development services from known companies in India.

5. Native Functionality

Flutter is basically an advanced framework that uses a specific communication method for connecting data to the native languages. It uses Platform Channels for linking which helps developers to access hardware.

When you use Flutter, it has libraries that let you establish connections with device hardware like microphones, cameras, and GPS chips. You can complete all essential tasks using Flutter libraries.

6. Great Performance

Flutter has been considered as one of the amazing frameworks that ensure standard performance. It is even better and powerful in comparison to other cross-platform technologies.

The current standard of this framework is 60 (FPS) which makes it completely unique. For the smooth appearance of screens, Flutter uses JavaScript Bridge.

Particular development tools such as Flutter Inspector and Dart Analysis assist developers to analyze their code and maintain the highest level of performance.

There are also some similar tools present in Android Studio that helps in optimizing and debugging the code. For the expected outcome, approaching Flutter app development companies can also be a good idea.

7. Getting popularity

Developers found Flutter as the most useful framework for cross-platform app development. There are multiple reasons behind its popularity:

  • Flutter approves and supports native code and allows developers to do anything a native language can.
  • Flutter has plenty of widgets with outstanding solutions. It is saving the development time which is profitable for the businesses that are expecting instant results.
  • The special framework is capable of supporting six operating systems. Whether it is Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, or Web, a developer will just have to use one code for launching their app on six different operating systems.

8. Large community

The Flutter community is increasing every year. Now, the number of GitHub stars has grown from sixty-four thousand to one lakh seventeen thousand.

It shows the interest of the development community in Flutter. This community is still increasing as lots of developers are contributing to it and improving the framework.

The latest  1.17 version of Flutter has done a lot of improvisation. It has resolved almost 6,339 issues in comparison to the last version 1.12. This type of improvement has been obtained due to Never code collaboration.

It is a great integration and development tool used by Flutter app developers to resolve issues effectively.

Now, it is easy for the Flutter team to resolve bugs on time. Developers communities are capable of reducing the operative memory consumption and size of the apps. They even managed to improve the performance of all iOS apps by 50%-60%.

I’ve worked with the team at AndolaSoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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So, the community has an important role in Flutter’s development. If its supporters will be increased, it can be easy for newcomers to learn and find Flutter app development service providers for those who are interested to invest in new projects.

9. Effective and Flexible UI:

By using the Flutter app development tool, you can control the entire pixel on the screen. This is because it moves everything from themes, animation, gestures, widgets that render in a single framework.

Therefore using flutter software provides you the flexibility to customize, develop and animate app designs.

Conclusion

Flutter has the immense ability to empower both Android and iOS app development using a single source code. It has all set of qualities that fasten the development process. To make it a more developer-friendly framework, Google is continuously adding new features to it. 

There are multiple reasons why professionals think that Flutter is the evident leader of mobile apps in the upcoming future. The organizational benefits of Flutter are considerable.

It has made it easy for companies to get their products fast into the market, minimize costs, and target more customers at once.

Are you planning to develop your mobile app with flutter cross platforms, contact us our expert will help you.

Benefits of Developing Mobile Application on Flutter Framework

Posted on by Jay

Are you planning to launch a mobile application for your business? Are you sorted about your start up business idea and are planning to launch a mobile application?

Well, we live in a competitive world where the ecosystem of technology is evolving as we speak!

As a matter of fact, many startups are facing the highest rate of failure due to the wrong choice of the mobile application development platform.

If you want to use a cross-platform framework for your app in 2021 you should definitely go for Flutter app development as Flutter speeds up the app development process and reduces the development cost.

It also provides you a great user experience with aesthetic and smooth animation.

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As we know Flutter is Google’s UI toolkit for building native apps and engaging user interfaces for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

It is hands down one of the best choices for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and big-scale enterprises to come up with the application of a maximum feature without making a hole in the pocket. How can I be so sure?

Statistics for Flutter mobile app development:

Flutter is amongst the top and most powerful frameworks as compared to other languages. Flutter mobile app developers are very happy and find it interesting, easy and fruitful.

Statistics for Flutter mobile app development:

The state at which Flutter is growing, on both market presence and features front, has made developers confident that the future of cross-platform application development belongs to Flutter and I second their opinion. 

Flutter

I’m sure that you must be intrigued by all the data shown above and must be wondering how Flutter for mobile app development is so trending? Allow me to walk you through it.

How is Flutter Setting the App Development Trends In 2021

1. Single Codebase

One of the features that makes Flutter stand out is the ‘write-once’ approach. It surpasses the traditional limitations of cross-platform approaches where developers had to write multiple codes for different platforms. 

Now, Flutter mobile app developers only have to code once and not separately for both operating systems, that is Android and IOS, that is why Flutter is considered by most of the developers. 

Flutter is a hybrid application development framework and reduces the daily efforts of both – users and developers.

Therefore they can quickly improve the application quality, design, and speed of the application.

2. Efficient code writing and app testing

The Flutter application development process is very efficient. Since only one code is required, it eases and accelerates the process, making it simpler and more efficient.

The single codebase approach is allowing developers to reuse it with different plugins, thus cutting the development time short.

Also, when it comes to testing, a simple quality assurance process is enough to verify the functionality, features and program of a cross-platform mobile app.

3. Hot reloading

Flutter cross-platform application development is trending due to features like “Hot Reloading” or “Hot Restart”. These features allow developers to view changes in the code within one second. 

In simple words, as the developers are coding, they are able to see the progress side by side. This in turn increases the productivity of the developers. Also, this feature is extraordinary for bug fixing.

4. Best suited for MVP

App development using Flutter can help you display your MVP to the investors. There is no requirement of developing two applications for android and iOS.

You can now discuss your business model with great simplicity and acquire funding. 

This will save you both time and resources by skipping the process of developing and testing project prototypes. Flutter compliments MVP development.

With Flutter increasing the pace of the development process, app development becomes simplified.

Also, Flutter’s compatibility with Firebase, doesn’t require you to separate backends for building simple MVP. Hence Flutter mobile app for your business will prove to be a great success.

5. Utilization of widgets

You must be aware of the fact that widgets are a very important part of the application interface. Flutter integrated apps provide a wide range of widgets including navigation, scrolling, fonts, that are customizable regardless of the screen size. 

There is no denying the fact that Flutter mobile apps provide a very smooth UI experience compared to another cross-platform framework.

6. Easy development language

The programming language used by Flutter is Dart which is based on the in-house language of Google.

Dart is a one-source and general-purpose language, therefore developers with any level of knowledge find this language comparatively simple and easy to access than other languages. 

Dart can not only be used for mobile app development framework, but it is also widely accessible for developing web, server and desktops apps.

7. Easy set up and maintenance

Due to a single codebase, it is relatively easy to develop and maintain the Flutter app. It improves the performance of the application as compared to any other app development platform and lowers the maintenance efforts.

Maintenance of flutter is easy due to the simple and single code used in programming.

Once the issue is spotted by the team members, changes are made swiftly without the hustle of going back and forth on the codes again and again.

So, it comes easy on the pocket as you do not have to spend extra money on powerful machines. That being said, anyone can effortlessly start developing a Flutter app with help from the team.

What other apps are developed in Flutter?

This sums up the why flutter trend in mobile app development is on-vogue. Now that I have walked you through the facts why Flutter mobile development is the best choice.

Let’s look at companies that already have Flutter mobile apps.

Using of flutter

Conclusion

Google’s Flutter is basically a game-changer in the app development world!

It has a huge potential for companies that work on different platforms with a quick turnaround and go-to-market aspects.

I’ve worked with the team at AndolaSoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

LEARN MORE

Not to mention it will save you money, resources, and a lot of time.

Flutter is the perfect choice for your business, now all you have to do is contact flutter mobile app development companies to help you out with your idea. 

The free and cost-effective feature of Flutter helps it in being an easy-to-use and reliable app development platform.

Companies having budget constraints can certainly look ahead to grow enormously with Flutter app development services in order to conquer the needs of the future market.

In this digital era, you can also opt for expert agencies out of your area.

For example, if you reside in the European region, then you can look out for a Flutter app development company in USA or flutter app development company in California.

An expert team will help you with your query and requirements. Let’s Discuss!