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5 Reasons Building Your Startup App in Flutter Is Great for Business

Posted on October 22, 2021October 9, 2024 by galaxy-admin

In this blog, we will take a look at the various pros and cons for startups if they choose Flutter to build their mobile applications.

Mobile apps are instrumental in driving the success of most startups. You must choose a reliable framework to build your mobile application. We will be sharing with you the various reasons why we recommend Google’s Flutter to develop efficient and profitable apps for startups.

The age-old question – Native or Cross-Platform?

The first decision that you need to make while building a mobile application is –

Shall I go ahead with one application for all the platforms using Cross-platform technologies?
Does it make more sense to develop native applications for Android and iOS?.

Advantages of building a Cross-Platform app for Startups:

Low development and maintenance costs

Cross-platform is a budget-friendly and faster-to-deploy way of building an app. This is good news for most startups. Native apps on the other hand are costlier to make and maintain as there are different codebases to look after, update, or fix. Cross-Platform with a single codebase in comparison, is easier to make and maintain.

Quicker-to-market

Cross-platform app code is reusable and allows you to make apps for both platforms with a single codebase. As a result, the time-to-market becomes shorter. With native development, you’ll be spending twice the time to provide the same set of functionalities for two separate audience bases.

Plug-ins for every need

As cross-platform development has become a common practice, the plugin marketplace is crowded with plugins to make your developer’s life easier. Plugin eliminates the grunt work, hence making your mobile app development more efficient and flawless.

Quick and easy testing

When you have a single codebase, you don’t have to hire different engineers with different skill sets to test a single app performance on different operating systems. Checking and optimizing a single app takes only half the time it takes for two apps with different codebases.

Looking at all these advantages, you may wonder why cross-platform isn’t a default for mobile app development already. Here is the catch!

The user experience of cross-platform applications is not at par with that of native applications. The applications are run through a code interpreter since they are not compiled as Native ARM code. As a result, the native apps are more intuitive and efficient.

Enhanced UX with Flutter –

Flutter is also a cross-platform development kit. However, it does things a little differently to provide a more native-like feel to your apps. Flutter leverages native UI elements of both Android and iOS.

Here are some pros of using Flutter for mobile app development for Startups:

1. Better design and customizations

Design is pivotal for any early-age startup app, as it needs to grab the attention of investors and users alike. Flutter comes equipped with rich UI features and intuitive designs that grab attention like lucrative crypto investments. You will also find custom widgets for Android and iOS quite useful, as it completes the native look of an app with a seamless and crisp UX. Among the list of countless widgets, Flutter is also equipped with Material Design for Android and Cupertino/ iOS widgets for iOS applications.

2. Dart hits the target

Developed by Google, Dart is Flutter’s programming language. It significantly reduces the launch time of the application. Additionally, Flutter does not need to name OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) widgets because it utilizes its own. As a result, apps built on Flutter don’t require a JavaScript bridge, because Flutter skips the JavaScript bridge to connect directly with the native platform.

3. Firebase for backend is great for startups

Firebase is Google’s backend solution and comes equipped with Flutter. It makes for a great backend solution, especially for mobiles. With Firebase, Flutter offers out-of-the-box and stable assistance, hosting solutions, real-time databases, and protocols for user authentication as well.

With Firebase’s release automation tool, mobile app launches and maintenance become more straightforward and seamless.

4. The hottest feature of Flutter | Hot Reload

Hot reload allows developers to apply and check changes to the code in real-time. The feature allows developers to quickly fix bugs and issues without risking functionality and redeployment of the code. With Hot Reload, developers can add new functionality, fix bugs, and experiment in real-time. This feature can increase your developer efficiency up to 5X.

5. Smart Libraries for a functional UI

No matter if you’re developing an app for iOS, Android, or Google Fuchsia, you can easily gain access to widgets for the respective platforms. When you’re using Flutter as a UI creation tool, you can use widgets to integrate all the platform-based functionalities like scrolling, navigation, icons, and fonts.

For business applications built for internal communications, ticketing systems, geolocation, and so on, Flutter offers powerful functionality to generate structured and intuitive UIs. These UIs rely on geographic locations along with the ability to change the UI based on language, text, and target area’s layout.

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Startup App with Flutter in 2021?

Like any other app, the pricing of apps built on Flutter is correlated to its complexity. The simpler ones like a fitness app with suggestions, plans, and profile should cost you around $26000 to $34800. Compare that to a highly complex app like Instagram, it will set you back around $41,500 to $55,000.

Factoring in the cost of making two separate native apps in the picture makes the Startup app development with Flutter an even juicier proposition.

Closing Thoughts

Owing to its convenient libraries, customization widgets, and native-like experience, developers are preferring 4-year old Flutter over many older counterparts. Therefore, its framework is evolving at a great pace. Flutter does have some flaws. They include architectural approach and lack of third party integrations. However, the cost of building an app and other benefits outweigh its flaws to make it a good choice for Startups.

React Native vs Flutter: Choosing the Best Hybrid Framework for Mobile App Development

Posted on August 25, 2021October 9, 2024 by galaxy-admin

Developing apps for iOS and Android using one code base is a tempting proposition. With the introduction of React Native in 2015, the already disruptive hybrid app development framework gained momentum. Prominent organizations like UberEats, Discord, and Facebook are moving their apps to React Native.

Fast-Forward to 2017, Google introduces the alpha version of their own hybrid framework called Flutter. Since then, both of the frameworks have been proving to be a dilemma for product owners and consumers looking to build hybrid applications. Which one should you choose? React Native or Flutter? Let’s break it down and figure out what is the most suitable option for you.

React Native vs Flutter | Productivity

One of the first things you must think about when deciding on a framework is productivity. How would it improve your efficiency? Whether the framework in question automates work functions or gets the work done in fewer lines of code.

1. Hot Reload

This is a feature that developers love! There is nothing better than a smoothly running Hot Reload environment. React Native and Flutter both come equipped with Hot Reload. Hot Reload eliminates the need to manually recompile the application by selecting relevant commands repeatedly. This happens automatically with the help of Hot Reload whenever changes are made or new gadgets are connected. It also preserves the last state of the app.

2. Code Structure

Unlike the previous feature, React Native and Flutter are pretty distinguishable in terms of code structure.

Unlike React Native, Flutter doesn’t separate data, style, and templates.
You don’t need additional templating languages like JSX or XML or any special visual tools to build a layout in Flutter.
Flutter lets you switch to different modes like design or code for different needs and better efficiency.
Flutter has even introduced a new feature “Outline View and Flutter Inspector” to make layout building even easier.

3. Installation and Setup

When it comes to installation, the process seems more convenient in Flutter for which you just have to download a binary corresponding to your system. Whereas in React Native’s case, the ease of installation depends on your familiarity with JavaScript. If you know your way around JavaScript then React Native installation would not be a problem. If you don’t, then you will need to learn npm for installations.

4. IDE Support

React Native has an edge over Flutter over the IDE support department where it comes with support for almost every IDE out there. Whereas Flutter only gets Android Studio, VS Code, and IntelliJ IDEA.

5. API

While RN lacks tools for drawing custom graphics, it makes it up in native interfaces, where it provides APIs for Wi-Fi, Geolocation, NFC payments, Bluetooth, Camera, and Biometrics.

The APIs case for Flutter is pretty hard to make as a lot of the interfaces are still in development except for Bluetooth and NFC payments.

Programming Languages

React Native is based on JavaScript, which is quite popular in the development community. JS is the default scripting language for web development. While most of the popular JavaScript frameworks are for frontend development, Node.JS is making its mark in the backend.

Flutter uses Dart, which is created by Google. Although it is among the lesser-known, Dart developers are quite fond of the black sheep.

Performance

From the performance front, React Native lags behind Flutter as it requires a bridge to convert JS variables into native ones to interact with the native components. RN uses JS to build apps, and in order to interact with native components like OEM widgets, audio, and GPS, a JS bridge is required that converts these JS variables into native ones. However, RN utilizes libraries like react-native-swipe-view to make things faster.

In comparison, Flutter’s architecture lets you build fast native-looking apps without the need for a bridge for variable conversion. For this reason, Flutter is able to run animations at 60 FPS.

Documentation

As Flutter is maintained by Google, the documentation is detailed and easy to explore and understand. React Native relies on external dev kits, and therefore, you will have to dig for documentation. However, the general RN documentation is easily available, and it happens to be quite detailed and helpful.

UI Components

In Flutter you will find in-built UI elements named widgets in place of the native ones. These widgets are easily customizable and available for every popular mobile platform along with one that is platform-independent.

And if you look at the external UI kits available for React Native. React Native wins by a huge margin as the number of React Native external UI kits is far greater than that of Flutter widgets.

Community

Considering the age of the frameworks, React Native is older and has a very rich and supportive community. Whereas Flutter’s community is constantly growing to become one of the most active ones.

Popular Apps made with React Native-

Discovery VR
Adidas Glitch
Wix
Walmart

Popular Apps made with Flutter

BMW App
NU Bank
Tencent
Square

Wrap Up

Flutter is a comprehensive package that manages to provide fast and performant apps, but it comes with a caveat that it is based on Dart. Whereas more people will be inclined towards React Native as it is based on JavaScript, but it lags in speed.

If performance and native-like experience are on top priority on your list, the Flutter will provide you that out of the box. And if you want to stick to JavaScript, and you are willing to do additional tweaks in order to extract faster performance out of your apps, React Native is your choice.

About Galaxy Weblinks
We specialize in delivering end-to-end software design & development services. Our UI/UX designers are creative problem-solvers with a decade of experience in all facets of digital and interactive design. We create compelling and human-focused experiences delivered through clean, and minimalist UI. Get in touch with us here.

Flutter Global Summit ’21 – Highlights and Takeaways

Posted on July 29, 2021October 9, 2024 by galaxy-admin

Flutter Global Summit 21 introduced several new and improved features, as well as some new tools. Flutter, originally introduced as a cross-platform mobile development tool, is now covering a broader range of development areas, particularly when combined with its native development language, Dart. Take a look at our top takeaways from this summit!

1. State Management- Riverpod

Riverpod allows you to manage the state of your application in a compile-safe manner while sharing many of the benefits of Provider (which instead of manually writing InheritedWidget, acts as a wrapper and common way to consume those InheritedWidgets).

Reverpod also provides numerous additional benefits, making it an excellent choice for Flutter state management.

This was a topic that sparked a lot of debate and a variety of solutions. There is even a league table of popular Flutter state management solutions. The provider is one of the most popular solutions, and Riverpod is marketed as a Provider without limitations.

2. Debugging – Dart DevTools

Flutter includes a set of performance and debugging tools, and the summit highlighted some of the advantages of learning them, such as the ability to monitor and filter network calls. Common development issues were also highlighted and how Flutter has a DevTool to solve each one.

3. Game Engine for Animation

Flame has given Flutter developers a path to include game-like features in their apps by providing an animation game engine. Flame is a modular Flutter game engine that provides a comprehensive set of out-of-the-box game solutions. It makes use of Flutter’s powerful infrastructure while simplifying the code required to build your projects.

Forge2D includes a physics engine similar to Box2D — it is a fork of Box2D, which has been used in many popular games. Forge2D is one of several tools that work with Flame.

4. Localization and Internationalization

The range of complexity presented by internationalization, which is far more complex than translating the text, was highlighted. Texts, plurals, dates, numbers, currencies, legal jargon, and other topics were all covered, demonstrating that there is a lot to think about when you understand the need to localize as well as translate.

The process of designing a software application so that it can be adapted to different languages and regions without requiring engineering changes is known as internationalization. The process of adapting internationalized software for a specific region or language by translating text and adding locale-specific components is known as localization.

5. Dart on the server- Serverpod

Serverpod is a next-generation app and web server that is designed specifically for the Flutter and Dart ecosystems. Serverpod solves the problem that developers face when creating a full-stack application that includes a mobile or web frontend and a back-end server with a database.

Instead of learning server-side programming languages and tools, Serverpod, an open-source product in development, aims to keep the developer working with Dart while also generating much of the required code to create your server API. It also produces Flutter client code.

Final Thoughts

Given that Flutter is now widely used on the web, it was interesting to hear panelists state that Flutter is not the best tool for general web application development. Waft is best suited for progressive web applications and single-page apps. Flutter’s strength is in its interactivity.

On the other hand, if you want to take your company’s mobile presence to the next level with your mobile application idea, then talk to us and we can help you decide which technology is opt for your mobile application.

About Galaxy Weblinks

We specialize in delivering end-to-end mobile design & development services and have hands-on experience with the latest technologies like Flutter. Flutter is the quickest way to deliver well-performing cross-platform mobile applications. Investing in Flutter app development saves money and ensures a faster go-to-market.

Flutter 1.22 Update| All You Need To Know

Posted on October 16, 2020October 10, 2024 by galaxy-admin

Google has released Flutter 1.22 on October 1st, 2020 following the 1.20 release in August. This update is focusing on syncing well with iOS 14 and Android 11 updates, among other features. This cross app development platform is set to make developers and app users happy. So let’s see how this will happen.

Flutter iOS 14 Updates

iOS app development is now set to be a better process than before with Flutter 1.22 update. There is now support for XCode 12 and as Xcode requires iOS 9.0 or higher versions, the default template is now 9.0 (previously it was 8.0). Developers are getting preview support for App Clips too. Crashes reported specific to iOS and font rendering issues were also fixed in this update. And not to miss, when a developer is using cupertino_icons 1.0 with Flutter 1.22, they are getting access to almost 900 new icons via the CupertinoIcons API.

Flutter Android 11 Update

There are two updates for Android developers. Flutter now supports exposing the safe insets of various Android displays i.e. notches, cutouts, and the display of waterfall edges. This will facilitate the placement of elements via MediaQuery and SafeArea APIs. And the second one is that animations are now in synchronization with the Android keyboard.

Google Maps And WebViews

Both these plugins are now ‘production ready’. One can write the code, build the APK, and release it, as per convenience. There is a note here by the Flutter team. They say that Android developers will have to manually enable webview_flutter until it becomes a default setting.

Extending The Buttons Family

Keeping up with the Material guidelines, there is now an additional ‘universe’ of buttons. Now developers won’t have to make widgets from scratch because of the lack of a few buttons. One can mix and match the older and newer buttons as per their requirements.

Analysis Tool For App size

Your developers won’t be quizzed for app sizes ever again. They can get their hands on the breakdown of native codes, assets, and even package level details of the compiled dart code. This size and composition summary is given by the analysis size tool. Such insights will help your team for keeping the app size within the set limits.

Smooth Scrolling

This feature is still in preview but it is an interesting one. It is present to bridge the gap between input and the display frequencies when they are not the same. Enters, resamplingEnabled flag. Flutter claims that you can see almost 97% improvement by enabling this flag and removing said discrepancies. Once there is a certain consensus about this feature, you can expect it to be the default setting. Apart from the above-mentioned features, there are some notable ones listed below:

Support for new internationalization and localization
Improved navigator 2.0
Improvement in the output linking of VSCode
State Restoration option in Android (In Preview)
Developers can host the inspector tab from Dart DevTools directly inside IntelliJ.

We’re excited about Flutter 1.22, so much so that we have even started exploring it from our end, yes we are nerds that way :D. In case you too want an inside look at how we are planning to use this update to the fullest in our new projects, you can ping us here.

About us

We, at Galaxy Weblinks, are all for new ideas and experiments. We believe that being up-to-date in this fast-paced world gives us adequate time to explore and implement new changes. Our mobile development team is proficient in building apps that are well aligned to our client’s and platform requirements. Contact us for a free consultation!