Flutter is an open-source framework developed by Google for building beautiful, fast, cross-platform mobile applications using a single codebase. Released in 2018, Flutter has rapidly become one of the most popular frameworks for cross-platform development, with strong adoption across enterprises and startups globally.
Flutter applications are written in Dart, a modern programming language developed by Google. Dart compiles to native code for both iOS and Android, enabling Flutter apps to achieve performance approaching native applications whilst maintaining the advantages of cross-platform development.
Why Flutter Exists
The Flutter framework was created to address limitations in earlier cross-platform solutions. Flutter's creators observed that existing frameworks either sacrificed performance (like hybrid approaches) or developer experience (by requiring platform-specific knowledge). Flutter aimed to provide both exceptional performance and productive development experience.
Flutter's Architecture
Flutter's architecture fundamentally differs from other cross-platform frameworks. Unlike hybrid frameworks, Flutter does not render content in a webview. Instead, it directly renders UI elements using Skia, Google's 2D rendering engine. This architectural choice eliminates the performance overhead inherent in webview-based approaches.
Flutter code compiles to native machine code. iOS apps compile to ARM code running directly on Apple processors. Android apps similarly compile to native Android code. This compilation results in performance matching native applications.
Flutter provides direct access to native iOS and Android APIs through platform channels. When Flutter's built-in widgets do not provide required functionality, developers can seamlessly integrate native code.
Key Advantages
Exceptional Performance: By compiling to native code and avoiding webviews, Flutter applications perform comparably to native applications. This enables building feature-rich, responsive applications that users expect.
Beautiful Default Design: Flutter's Material Design and Cupertino (iOS-style) widgets provide beautiful, platform-native appearances. Applications look polished immediately with minimal customisation.
Hot Reload: During development, developers can modify code and see changes reflected instantly on the device or simulator without losing application state. This dramatically accelerates development velocity.
Single Codebase: A single Dart codebase produces native iOS and Android applications. Feature development occurs once; deployment happens everywhere. This reduces development costs and time to market.
Productive Language: Dart combines familiar syntax with modern features like strong typing, null safety, and functional programming capabilities. Developers often find Dart pleasant to work with.
When Flutter Excels
Flutter is the preferred choice for projects where time-to-market is critical because single codebase enables simultaneous deployment to iOS and Android. Budget-constrained applications benefit from reduced costs versus separate native teams. Performance-sensitive applications benefit from compilation to native code enabling complex, responsive applications. Beautiful UI requirements are met through Flutter's design system enabling rapid creation of stunning interfaces. Rapid iteration is enabled through hot reload.
PixelForce's Flutter Experience
PixelForce utilises Flutter for cross-platform application development. Our experience building Flutter applications across multiple industries - from fitness apps to marketplace platforms - demonstrates the framework's versatility and suitability for diverse application types.
Desktop and Web Expansion
Beyond mobile, Flutter now supports desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) and web development. This expansion enables organisations to build applications for multiple platforms - mobile and desktop - using Flutter's single framework.
Limitations and Considerations
Flutter does have specific limitations. The Dart ecosystem has fewer third-party libraries compared to Node.js or Java ecosystems. Newly released iOS or Android features may require waiting for Flutter support. Finding experienced Flutter developers is easier than five years ago but remains more challenging than finding JavaScript developers.
Comparison with React Native
React Native and Flutter are the two dominant cross-platform frameworks. React Native uses JavaScript and offers a large ecosystem. Flutter uses Dart and provides superior performance and developer experience. For new projects, Flutter's performance and "out of the box" experience often make it the preferred choice.
Library Ecosystem
Flutter's ecosystem has matured significantly. Essential packages exist for navigation, state management, HTTP requests, and most common functionality. The quality of official packages is particularly high, with extensive documentation and examples.
The Future of Flutter
Google's continued investment in Flutter, adoption by major organisations, and expansion to new platforms suggest Flutter will remain a dominant framework for building cross-platform applications. For organisations seeking to maximise development efficiency whilst delivering high-quality applications, Flutter represents an excellent choice.