Flutter and React Native: An Overview
Let’s start with some essential (but crucial) information regarding Flutter and React Native.
What exactly is Flutter?
Flutter is a lightweight user interface framework. To put it another way, it’s a full-featured app Software Development Kit (SDK) that includes widgets and features.
What Is The Purpose Of Flutter?
Flutter makes it possible to create cross-platform apps.
It allows developers to create and deliver aesthetically appealing natively built apps for mobile (iOS, Android), Web, and desktop — all from a single codebase (source: official Flutter website).
Please take note:
Desktop Support In Flutter
• You may compile Flutter source code into a native Windows, macOS, or Linux desktop program when designing desktop apps with Flutter.
Please note that Flutter’s desktop support is currently in beta. As a result, it still contains flaws. Developers can, however, use the stable channel to sample a beta snapshot of desktop support or the beta channel to keep up with the newest modifications to the desktop.
Flutter for Web Flutter’s web support provides the same mobile and web experiences. This means that you can now create Android, iOS, and the Web using the same codebase.
Flutter’s web support is particularly beneficial in the following cases, according to the official Flutter website:
• Flutter-based Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
• Single Page Applications (SPAs) SPAs load once and send data to and from internet services.
Web compatibility for Flutter gives existing Flutter mobile apps a browser-based delivery methodology.
A Little More Information On Flutter
• It’s open-source and free.
• It’s built on Dart, an object-oriented programming language that’s quick to learn (Dart is now in its 2.14 version). It’s new and simple to pick up – especially for seasoned developers who are already familiar with Java and C#. Dart also advocates for sound null safety.
• It provides widgets generated from its high-performance rendering engine — these are quick, appealing, and customizable.
• Its architecture is based on the top-rated reactive programming (it follows the same pattern as React).
• Flutter apps have a terrific appearance and feel thanks to the widget experience (while you can still create your custom app design using readily-available UI elements that follow specific platform guidelines)
Flutter Was Created By Who?
A Google team created a flutter.
However, as an open-source project, it receives contributions from both Google and the Flutter community.
As you can see, Google moved quickly from the Flutter beta version to the final steps of Flutter 1.0 stabilization.
Even better, the team hasn’t rested on its laurels since the release of Flutter 1.0. It has worked hard to make the toolkit more robust and resilient, focusing on improved stability, performance, and quality.
In Conclusion, Flutter Is Still A New Technology.
Given the rapid rate of Flutter’s development – and its exploding popularity – we can confidently state that it is remarkably stable and mature for its age.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular Flutter Apps?
• Alibaba’s Xianyu app (App Store, Google Play) – Alibaba is one of the world’s largest e-commerce businesses.
• Hamilton app (App Store, Google Play, Website) – official app for the Broadway musical Hamilton
• Google Ads application (App on App Store, App on Google Play)
• The eBay Motors app (available on the App Store and Google Play) is a sophisticated tool for exploring, purchasing, and selling vehicles straight from consumers’ smartphones.
• Stadia (App Store, Google Play) – A Google gaming platform that allows players to play games on their computers, desktops, and mobile devices.
• Groupon is a coupon site (App on App Store, App on Google Play). Hundreds of thousands of merchants use Flutter to track campaign performance, manage customer satisfaction, and get quick support from Groupon.
• Baidu Tieba (App Store) — China’s largest communication platform, operated by Baidu, the Chinese search engine firm.
• Philips Hue (App Store, Google Play) – Flutter gave Philips Hue apps easy controls, allowing users to set the atmosphere and sync their intelligent lights to their media.
• Makani app (App Store, Google Play) – a groundbreaking GPS navigation app that is poised to improve the lives of millions of Libyans
• Reflectly app (App Store, Google Play) (App on App Store, App on Google Play, Website)
As you can see, Google moved quickly from the Flutter beta version to the final steps of Flutter 1.0 stabilization.
Even better, the team hasn’t rested on its laurels since the release of Flutter 1.0. It has worked hard to make the toolkit more robust and resilient, focusing on improved stability, performance, and quality.
In Conclusion, Flutter Is Still A New Technology.
Given the rapid rate of Flutter’s development – and its exploding popularity – we can confidently state that it is remarkably stable and mature for its age.
What Are Some Of The Most Used Flutter Apps?
• Alibaba’s Xianyu app (App Store, Google Play) – Alibaba is one of the world’s largest e-commerce firms
• Hamilton app (App Store, Google Play, Website)
• The eBay Motors app (available on the App Store and Google Play) is a sophisticated tool for exploring, purchasing, and selling vehicles straight from consumers’ smartphones.
• Stadia (App Store, Google Play) – A Google gaming platform that allows players to play games on their computers, desktops, and mobile devices.
• Groupon is a coupon site (App on App Store, App on Google Play). Hundreds of thousands of merchants use Flutter to track campaign performance, manage customer satisfaction, and get quick support from Groupon.
• Baidu Tieba (App Store) — China’s largest communication platform, operated by Baidu, the Chinese search engine firm.
• Philips Hue (App Store, Google Play) – Flutter gave Philips Hue apps easy controls, allowing users to set the atmosphere and sync their intelligent lights to their media.
• Makani app (App Store, Google Play) – a groundbreaking GPS navigation app that is set to improve the lives of millions of Libyans.
• Abbey Road Studios’ Topline app (App on App Store, App on Google Play)
• Reflection (App on App Store, App on Google Play, Website)
Flutter’s Advantages: 1. Hot Reload = Quick Coding
Flutter allows for more dynamic – and faster – app development for developers. It’s one of the best things about Flutter, and it’s something that every top mobile app development business appreciates.
Developers can make changes to the codebase in real-time and see them reflected in the application right away. This is known as the “Hot reload” feature, and updates often take (milli-)seconds to appear.
The tool allows teams to add features, correct bugs quickly, and test new ideas. In addition, when it comes to developer-designer collaboration, Hot Reload comes in handy.
However, see Hot Reload restrictions for a list of upgrades that require a complete restart.
2. A Single Codebase, Two Mobile Platforms (Plus More!)
Flutter allows developers to write a single codebase for two apps – one for iOS and Android.
Because Flutter has its widgets and designs, it is platform-agnostic, which means you can have the same app on two platforms (while also being able to differentiate your apps).
Flutter for Web is currently in development by Google, and you can see a preview version of it here. Once this is online, a single codebase will support Android, iOS, and web platforms.
3. Up To A 50% Reduction In Testing
Because you’ll be testing the same application on all platforms, your Quality Assurance process will be significantly faster.
We write around half as many automated tests because we can write the same tests for both platforms, lowering the workload on our QA staff.
However, manual testing will be required at a comparable degree as native development, as your QA professionals will have to examine both apps on each platform manually.
4. Apps That Are Faster
Flutter apps run smoothly and quickly, never stuttering or cutting out when scrolling. Why?
Flutter uses the Skia Graphics Library. When a view changes, the UI is redrawn as a result of this.
Flutter UI is fluid and produces 60 frames per second since most of the work is done on the GPU (graphics processing unit) (frames per second).
However, you must exercise caution throughout development to avoid causing redrawing of view elements whose data has not changed.
Redrawing the entire view rather than just the items that change can influence the application’s performance and speed, especially if you need to reload the view frequently, as in a stopwatch application.
5. Appearances That Your Users Will Adore
Flutter doesn’t use any of the system’s native components. Instead, Flutter has its collection of specialized widgets that are rendered and handled by the graphics engine of the framework (source). Users will notice UI components that differ from traditional native apps, but this isn’t necessarily a drawback.
Flutter apps have a particularly user-friendly UI, which is a significant advantage over React Native thanks to its focus on visual details. Flutter was intended to make it simple to make your widgets or to tweak an existing one.
6. The Same App Interface Is Available On All Smartphones, Including Older Ones.
Even new apps seem the same on older iOS or Android systems, so you’ll never have to worry about older devices being supported.
7. Ideal for MVPs
If you need to create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for your project, such as a demo for possible investors, Flutter is a great choice, especially if you’re short on time.
The Flutter Gallery app contains a demonstration of Flutter’s essential features, widgets, and vignettes.
REACT NATIVE BENEFITS:
1. Quick refresh = quick coding
Flutter Has A Functionality Similar To This.
By allowing a developer to insert new code immediately into a running app, Hot Reload speeds up the development process. As a result, a developer may observe changes in real-time without having to recompile the software.
Hot Reload also preserves the application’s state, minimizing the possibility of losing it during a full reload (a significant feature in the context of state-based frameworks) — further accelerating the mobile app development process.
2. A Single Codebase, Two Mobile Platforms (Plus More!)
Exactly like Flutter, you develop a single codebase to power two apps, one for Android and one for iOS.
Even better, by sharing code with web apps, JavaScript gives you an advantage when creating cross-platform applications.
See the examples below for frameworks that let you code on platforms other than iOS and Android (including web and desktop apps) at the same time:
• ReactXp — a Skype-developed app that supports Android, iOS, and the Web, as well as Windows 10. (UWP)
• React-Native-Windows – created by Microsoft, this library supports all Windows 10 devices ( PCs, tablets, 2-in-1s, Xbox, Mixed reality devices, etc.)
Note: Bartosz (our React Native developer) sees things a little differently than other people and chooses a different approach.
When comparing a web desktop app, a mobile web app, and a native app, you may presume they all have the same business logic – but they’ll all need a different UI to meet different user needs.
So, Why Not Try This:
1. Separate Shared Code Into Its Repository; 2. Treat It As A Separate Project; 3. Inject It Like Any Other Dependency?
Working in this manner allows developers to concentrate on building programs for a specific platform rather than worrying about cross-platform compatibility.
Watch Ben Ellerby’s presentation regarding the technique and RadekPietruszewski’s presentation if you appreciate the idea of establishing abstraction over the platform.
3. It Employs Javascript, A Widely-Used Programming Language.
JavaScript is utilized in React Native, a programming language that many developers are familiar with (whereas Dart is still not so widely known or used). You can also use TypeScript, which is a JavaScript subset if you prefer statically typed programming languages.
4. Choice Of The Developer
The benefit is that React Native allows the developer to choose precisely which solutions to utilize based on both the project’s requirements and the developer’s preferences.
For example, a developer can pick whether to utilize a custom UI library or write their own if they need to handle global state (how to store and manage data used in many app components), choose a router library, or choose between JavaScript and TypeScript.
5. A Vibrant – And Large – Community
When it comes to repositories dedicated to collecting articles, tools, and resources about specific technologies, React Native outperforms Xamarin, Flutter, and Ionic (source: Awesome-Flutter, Awesome-ReactNative, Awesome-Ionic, Awesome-Xamarin).
React Native is also a member of the “React family.” Many libraries are platform-agnostic (for example, Formik, React Router, and styled-components), meaning they can be used on both the Web and mobile.
It’s also worth drawing your attention to Expo – the React constitutional framework, making it easier to access native APIs and includes ready-to-use solutions for standard mobile features (e.g., push notifications).
AWS Amplify, a solution that facilitates interaction with AWS capabilities by addressing authentication, storage, push alerts, and analytics, is a second library worth mentioning.
6. React Developers Will Find It, Simple, To Pick Up.
If you have a web development background and are already familiar with popular React solutions, you can quickly learn React Native without learning new libraries.
7. Up To A 50% Reduction In Testing
We write around half as many automated tests because we can write the same tests for both platforms, lowering the workload on our QA staff. It appears to be the same as in the Flutter app development process, which we explained here.
Title: Why Are Most Companies Showing Interest In Flutter Than React Native?
Desc: Nowadays, mobile apps are more prevalent than ever before. So choose technology is tough. here we share Why Are Most Companies Showing Interest In Flutter Than React Native?
Author Bio: Jignesh Vaghasiya is the CEO at Universal Stream Solution. Universal Stream Solution is a mobile app development company in Atlanta (http://www.universalstreamsolution.com/). That helps startups to enterprise companies in mobile & web technology.
Author mail-id: [email protected]