Continuing to Rely on Flutter in 2024: A Smart Choice [Update]

In today’s world, there’s a mobile app for virtually everything. With the growing popularity of smartphones, more companies than ever invest in mobile app development to better engage their target audiences. Why? Because mobile apps offer numerous benefits and features that websites cannot.

When it comes to launching a product, many businesses and startups often struggle to choose between prioritizing iOS or Android first. But what if one code could easily be used to develop an app for both platforms? Cross-platform technologies like Flutter make this a reality. In this article, we’ll delve more into its impressive features.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is an open-source Software Development Kit (SDK) developed by Google and built on the Dart programming language (also created by Google). Dart was designed to focus on apps that prioritize excellent design and user experience (UX).

Flutter enables the development of cross-platform applications for Linux, Windows, Android, and iOS using a single code base for web, mobile, or desktop apps. From a business standpoint, this is highly advantageous as it requires only one code and a single team of experts, making the development process more cost-effective and faster. To learn more, read our Native vs Cross-Platform Development article and explore the differences between Mobile Apps vs Mobile Web.

In 2023, our team of tech enthusiasts will continue to choose Flutter for mobile app development. It remains one of the best cross-platform app development tools, ensuring a secure, supported, and reliable future for all software solutions created with it.

What Sets Flutter Apart?

Well-known brands like Airbnb, Uber, Alibaba, eBay, BMW, and of course, Google, use Flutter in their mobile apps. More about used Flutter in commercial apps here:

1. Unified Code Repository

Flutter’s efficient characteristics and capabilities greatly expedite the mobile app development process. One such feature involves employing a unified code repository for all platforms, allowing developers to write code just once for both Android and iOS platforms.

This feature is valuable for entrepreneurs and developers alike and significantly reduces the time required to develop your app, thereby shortening the time to market. A unified code repository presents the following supplementary benefits:

• The amount of testing and maintenance needed for your software application is considerably minimized
• Lower development expenses result in enhanced business productivity and efficiency

As demonstrated, a primary reason for Flutter’s growing popularity among developers and business owners alike is the unified code repository.

2. The Optimal MVP Choice

Companies of varying sizes and scopes utilize Flutter, with startups holding a slight edge. Flutter is particularly beneficial for businesses with limited resources since, more often than not, they encounter failure and can’t afford to dive in completely. To conserve funds, time, and resources while still achieving tangible outcomes from their concept, it’s advisable to begin with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Learn all there is to know about MVPs in our MVP article.

Developing an MVP can grant you valuable knowledge about the potential market influence of the completed product. Even with the initial version of your new digital offering, you can collect customer feedback, evaluate desired new features, devise a more comprehensive development plan, and build a customer base.

You can employ MVPs to test your products, services, ideas, or emerging technologies, but how does Flutter fit into this equation?

Essentially, Flutter is the most efficient and effective tool for crafting your MVP. 

Here are several reasons why:

• Development costs are low.
• You can market your product faster.
• All the necessary tools for app development are consolidated in one place. Moreover, Flutter simplifies the integration of popular cloud services like Firebase and AWS, which offer a plethora of features such as authentication, analytics, hosting, crash reporting, cloud functions, cloud storage, and more.

With Flutter, concerns about limited resources and time no longer hinder you from creating the perfect app for your business.

3. Effortless Customization

Apps developed with Flutter boast remarkable flexibility when it comes to making changes or adjustments due to the unified code repository. Both iOS and Android users can instantly see all updates.

Furthermore, any code-related issues can be resolved promptly. This significantly reduces maintenance costs, allowing business owners to allocate funds to other aspects of their venture.

 

4. Native-like Performance

Flutter offers a significant advantage in terms of performance. Flutter apps are compiled into native code, which considerably enhances their speed. To ensure smooth running, the graphics engine is designed to run at 60 frames per second, and Flutter can support up to 120 fps if the device allows it. Additionally, developers have access to tools to detect any performance issues.

5. Exceptional Widgets

Flutter provides access to an extensive library of widgets tailored for various sectors. By utilizing the right widgets, your app will appear more polished and attract more users. Nearly every feature is available as a widget, encompassing navigation, scrolling, fonts, and effects. Moreover, these widgets are also easily implemented across various platforms and designs. What more could you ask for?

6. A Vibrant Flutter Community

Both Google, the creator of Flutter, and the developer community provide substantial support. The backing of a major company like Google guarantees that this technology won’t become outdated anytime soon. As previously mentioned, Google incorporates Flutter into many of its products (such as Google Ads or Google Fuchsia) and will continue investing in and refining it for a considerable time. Therefore, not only is Flutter our choice for 2023, but Google also stands behind their technology that has aided developers globally.

The Flutter community is growing and becoming increasingly active, regularly organizing in-person and virtual meetups and events. The level of support from the community is particularly noteworthy, with your IT team being able to gain insights from dedicated developers proficient in Flutter’s intricacies.

7. Animation-Friendly

Flutter’s robust animation support simplifies the creation of intricate animated features. Although it still requires time, Flutter makes incorporating animations into your software solution much easier compared to native tools. So, if your app’s primary focus is animation, consider building it with Flutter.

8. Secure by Design

Security should be a top concern for any app from the outset, and your technical team should prioritize it throughout the development process and beyond. If you choose to use Flutter for developing future mobile apps, we have great news! This framework detects potential vulnerabilities and notifies you well before any damage occurs. Furthermore, as Flutter is supported by Google, it adheres to the strictest security standards, guaranteeing your app’s safety.

9. Exceptional User Experience (UX)

It’s well-known that Flutter boasts an extensive array of widgets for apps. Consequently, Flutter apps cannot interact with the native components of the devices. This eliminates in-app inconsistencies, resulting in an exceptional user experience (UX) and smoother app performance.

Apart from your app’s seamless user experience, what else can assist you in establishing a loyal customer base? You may believe launching an app idea ahead of your competitors is impossible but remember – Flutter can support you in both scenarios.

Why Flutter is still at the forefront [2024 Update]

10. Dart 3.0: Dart Throws a Bullseye

Dart 3.0 has rolled out, and it’s like they took everything we loved about our favorite languages and mixed it into one super language. For those who’ve dabbled in Java, C#, or Kotlin, Dart 3.0 feels like coming home. It’s slick and fun and makes Flutter even more of a joy to work with. The anticipated enhancements in Dart 3.0, offers better null safety, improved type inference and improved support for asynchronous programming.These improvements are not just technical upgrades; they’re about making development with Flutter a smoother, more intuitive experience.

Flutter’s evolution is a testament to its robust roadmap, with Flutter 3.0 expected to bring new widgets, performance optimizations, and even stronger support for desktop and web platforms. This aligns perfectly with our ongoing narrative at Codigee, where we’ve been discussing the potential of Flutter in various domains. Dart 3.0 is set to bolster this potential, making it an even smarter choice for developers looking to stay ahead in the game.

11. Quick Time to Market

In app development, time is of the essence. Flutter’s promise of a quick time to market is not just a claim; it’s a reality that’s been consistently delivered. The framework’s ability to expedite the development process without compromising quality is a game-changer. This is especially true when considering the integration of Material You design principles and the growth of Flutter’s plugin ecosystem, as highlighted in the roadmap for 2024. These advancements contribute to a streamlined development process, allowing for rapid deployment of apps that are both aesthetically pleasing and functionally robust.

12. Hot Reload Feature

The Hot Reload feature has been a crowd favorite, and it’s only improving. It’s a significant productivity booster that allows developers to see the changes almost instantly without losing the current application state. This feature is a huge time-saver and a testament to Flutter’s commitment to developer efficiency. As we continue to explore the capabilities of Flutter, the Hot Reload functionality remains a key highlight, enabling us to iterate faster and wiser.

13. Flutter for Web and Desktop

Flutter’s expansion beyond mobile to web and desktop platforms is a bold move paying off. The framework’s potential for creating responsive web and desktop apps with native performance is immense. As we’ve been discussing the transition to web and desktop development with Flutter, it’s clear that Flutter’s capabilities are not just theoretical but practical and impactful. The roadmap for 2024 promises more stable and feature-rich support for these platforms, ensuring that Flutter remains a versatile and powerful tool for developers.

14. AR and VR Capabilities

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are no longer just buzzwords; they’re technologies that are being integrated into the app development process. Flutter’s foray into AR and VR creates opportunities for developers to build immersive experiences once thought to be the domain of specialized frameworks. At Codigee, we’re excited about these possibilities and have been exploring how AR and VR can be leveraged within Flutter, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in app development.

15. AI-Powered Flutter Apps

The synergy between AI and Flutter is revolutionizing how we approach app development. AI’s role in analyzing codebases, identifying trends, and generating code is not just about automation; it’s about enhancing the developer’s toolkit. This dynamic duo enables brighter, more responsive apps that learn and adapt. As we delve into the world of AI-powered apps with Flutter, we’re not just following trends; we’re creating them.

How does Flutter reduce development costs?

Designing and implementing separate mobile apps for iOS and Android can be costly. Since you need to work within both ecosystems, assembling two development teams with specialists for each operating system is crucial. Flutter, as a cross-platform technology, significantly reduces these expenses.

Ordinarily, it takes three experts (each using a different technology) to create a product for various platforms. Flutter enables you to efficiently launch a product on multiple platforms using the same code, potentially saving the cost of one developer. A single codebase also considerably decreases project management expenses (by 20–25%), and with Flutter, development costs can be reduced by up to 50%. Therefore, startups and small businesses can benefit from Flutter due to the substantial cost savings.

What secures the future of Flutter App Development?

Google consistently updates Flutter, adding new features, enhancing functionality, and improving performance. Flutter 3 was launched in May 2022, followed by version 3.3.8 in September and versions 3.3.9 and 3.3.10 in November and December.

In addition to supporting iOS, Android, Windows, and Web as in previous versions, Flutter 3 offers robust support for Linux and macOS apps. You can develop apps for six platforms from a single codebase, guaranteeing Flutter’s long-term future.

With over 500,000 apps already developed using Flutter, the latest version and its additional capabilities are expected to raise that number by another 500,000.

Moreover, Flutter 3 includes updated performance and efficiency features. The Google-owned Dart, which powers Flutter, continues to receive regular updates, with Dart 3 also anticipated this year.

Other significant updates that may seem technical but can’t be overlooked include the following:

• Improved Firebase integration: The fundamental component of the Firebase service now incorporates source code and documentation. This allows developers to build apps with broader features, functions, and a more powerful backend service.
• Firebase’s real-time crash reporting service, Crashlytics, has also been updated. Real-time failure tracking enables your IT team to enhance the stability and security of your application.
• A Casual Games Toolkit is included in Flutter 3 to help kickstart game development.

Flutter is not only supported and refined by Google but also by the extensive Flutter developer community. Being open-source, tech enthusiasts and Flutter developers alike can contribute to this SDK’s growth in various ways, including adding new code or documentation.

Google isn’t the only one supporting and improving Flutter – the wider Flutter developer community is too. Being an open-source platform, both technology enthusiasts and Flutter developers have the opportunity to enhance this SDK’s growth in various ways, such as adding new code or documentation.

What’s more in 2024 [Update]

In Conclusion

Various industries like e-commerce, retail, finance, and fintech rely on Flutter for app development. Google persistently supports and promotes Flutter, which has experienced a surge in popularity and is unlikely to wane anytime soon.

Simply having an app for your business isn’t enough to truly connect with your customers. Providing additional value ensures customers can access your services more quickly and easily. To achieve this, your app must excel in every aspect, including attractive design, smooth transitions, an intuitive user interface (UI), an excellent user experience (UX), and easily adjustable settings. Learn more about UI, UX, and their distinctions.

At Codigee, we take great pride in staying current with cutting-edge technology trends. As we have full confidence in the future of Flutter, we’re always expanding our team of talented developers. If you’re a Flutter developer, don’t hesitate to contact us and discover potential collaboration opportunities together.

If you have any inquiries about our Flutter development services or want to discuss a potential app idea we could create together, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to assist you in enhancing your business through digital transformation.