Know Flutter
Tags: beginners, flutter, ios, android
Published: 2022-02-19 17:34:43



Flutter is an open-source framework by Google, released in May 2017, for building fanciable, constitutionally compiled multi-platform applications from a single codebase. 
Meaning, you can use one programming language and one codebase to create two different apps for iOS and Android. 
Flutter uses Dart as the programming language. Dart is also an open-source, Client-Side programming language that is easy to use, learn, and provides high performance.

Flutter is comprised of two very important parts:
A.	An **SDK i.e., Software Development Kit** which is a collection of tools that are going to help you develop your applications. Tools for compiling your code into native machine code are included (code for iOS and Android).
B.	A **Framework, UI Library based on widgets** which is a collection of reusable UI elements (buttons, text inputs, sliders, and so on) that you can personalize for your own needs.

For both developers and businesses, the Flutter framework offers fascinating possibilities. When iOS and Android apps are produced utilizing the same codebase and a user-friendly design, mobile app development is speedy and cost-effective.

 **Why Flutter?**
I. **Fast**
Flutter programming compiles ARM or Intel machine code as well as JavaScript for lightning-fast performance on any device.

II.**Productive**
Build and iterate rapidly to be productive. Without losing state, update the code and view changes practically quickly.

III.**Flexible**
Control every pixel to create unique, adaptive designs that look and feel amazing on every device.

IV.**Easy to learn**
It is simple to pick up. Flutter enables developers to create native mobile apps without the requirement for OEM widgets or a large amount of code. This, together with Flutter's appealing user interface, simplifies the process of developing mobile apps.

V. **Cost-effective**
Developing iOS and Android apps using the same codebase is effectively the same as developing two apps for the price of one.

VI.**Great documentation & community**
 Thanks to its extensive documentation and easy-to-follow use cases, Flutter provides a wealth of resources to address your questions. Flutter users can also exchange ideas through community hubs like [Flutter Community](https://flutter.dev/community) and [Flutter Awesome](https://flutterawesome.com/)


**Flutter App Development's Drawbacks**
While Flutter app development has many advantages, it's also crucial to note the framework's drawbacks:

•	Flutter is a brand-new app. Flutter has a lot of plugins and UI components, but frameworks like Xamarin and React Native have a lot more. While Flutter will not remain the newest framework on the block indefinitely, it is the current state of affairs.

•	Dart isn't particularly popular. Even though it is a fantastic programming language, developers are far more inclined to explore languages like Java or Kotlin.

•	Some components are available just on iOS or Android, not both. Because Flutter is a Google product, these components are more likely to support Android. Android developers are often more interested in Flutter than iOS developers.


**Framework Architecture
Dart Platform**
On Windows, macOS, and Linux, Flutter runs in the Dart virtual machine, which uses a just-in-time execution engine. When building and debugging apps, Flutter uses Just in Time compilation, which enables for "hot reload," which allows changes to source files to be injected into a live application. Flutter now includes stateful hot reloading, which means that changes to source code are reflected in the running app without the need for a restart or losing state in most cases.

**Flutter Engine**
For low-level rendering, Flutter's engine, which is primarily written in C++, employs Google's Skia graphics library. It also works with platform-specific SDKs, such as Android and iOS. The Flutter Engine is a portable runtime for hosting Flutter applications. It includes animation and graphics, file and network I/O, accessibility support, plugin architecture, and a Dart runtime and compiles toolchain, among other things. The Flutter framework, which includes a reactive framework and a set of platform, layout, and foundation widgets, is how most developers interact with Flutter.


**Foundation Library**
The Foundation library, written in Dart, contains essential classes and functions for building Flutter apps, such as APIs for communicating with the engine.

**Widgets for certain designs**
The Flutter framework has two sets of widgets that adhere to different design styles: Material Design widgets use Google's Material Design language, while Cupertino widgets use Apple's iOS Human Interface principles.

 
**Don’t need to Flutter after you learn Flutter!**

Flutter is a popular app development technology that has been used to create several successful mobile apps, including:
Google Ads
Xianyu by Alibaba
Cryptograph
KlasterMe

Top-tier firms are looking for mobile app developers who know Flutter, and based on experience and job function, a dev with Flutter knowledge can make anywhere from $80,704 to $126,087 per year. Mobile app developers who are fluent in Flutter are in high demand.



**How to get started with Flutter?**

One of the right ways to start with flutter is to do **certification courses** that will also help you engage yourself in jobs later on. 

You might be curious about the development platforms to employ once you have a basic understanding of what flutter is. If you're an Android or iOS developer, you're undoubtedly already familiar with Android Studio and XCode. Flutter is dependent on the Flutter SDK, same as Android is dependent on the Android SDK. The following IDEs should be used:
Android Studio
 vscode 
 XCode

**Google Code labs** 
It is a website where you may learn how to code.
This entails following step-by-step instructions to solve coding problems. It's intriguing because it's extremely practical; you can follow along with the code labs and then adjust them to your liking later.

**Attempt Code Challenges**
The one challenge we are GDSC Community is coming up with. You can learn about flutter, complete challenges, and even get schwag. 


**Conclusion** 
Well, what do you think of flutter? Will you start learning flutter?
I hope that this introduction has sparked your interest and pushed you to learn more. 

**Happy Fluttering!**