Hello! With this post, we start the Flutter saga, a series of posts talking about Flutter. Today we'll learn what is Flutter and why we use it.
What is Flutter? - Flutter is an open-source multiplatform framework for developers created by Google, in 2018, which can be used to create applications for Android and iOS mobile devices and from the Flutter 2.2 version, the same code, allows you to generate applications for the web and the desktop. With Flutter we use the Dart language, developed by Google as an alternative to JavaScript
Why Flutter?
For years there has been a request in the dev world about a framework or a language that could create multiplatform apps.
Before Flutter, apps were written in one language for Android phones, in another for iOS devices and so on. So you would end up with a lot of codes and apps that may not be the same for environmental problems.
Instead, with Flutter we can create only one code that can work on Android and iOS phones, Web and Desktop apps.
Pros and Cons
Like every other programming tool, Flutter has its vantages and disadvantages.
Let's first look at its pros:
A unique code-base for all platforms, completely reusable;
Possibility to have the same UI on different devices;
A simple and modern language: Dart;
The hot-reload makes adding features much easier;
The main principle: Everything is a Widget;
Compilation in the device's native language;
A various set of public libraries to use for UI and other tools.
And here are some cons:
This framework is new and not so popular;
The fact that you can't test iOS apps unless you have a MacBook.