Gearing up for your next project but are unable to decide to choose between Flutter or the Native language? Don’t worry as this blog targets people like you.
Many businesses are still interested in cross-platform apps because native apps for iOS and Android are more expensive to develop and maintain. Furthermore, Cross-platform app development services are not as difficult as native development, and it is an important point for the business. Since 2018, the popularity of Flutter’s cross-platform framework has grown in a variety of industries, including retail, fintech and e-commerce. When we compare native development to Flutter, we can see that both provide high scalability and a good user experience. However, developing your app with Flutter is faster and easier because you will need fewer developers and will require fewer hours of their time.
We, at Stellar Digital, aid in building cross-platform apps and practice Native technologies. Just so that you gather a better clarity over things, after reading this article, you will understand what business objectives Flutter and native technologies can help you achieve. So, without any further ado, let’s begin!
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source structure that employs Google’s Dart programming language. The framework is regarded as an improved UI toolkit that can be used to create cross-platform applications with a single code base. The framework allows you to create an easy-to-read, flexible UI with native performance. Flutter was used in the following situations:
- MVP mobile applications
- Material design apps
- OS-level apps
Flutter is supported by a team of Google developers and the Flutter community.
What is Native Technology?
Native application development, as opposed to cross-platform tools, is platform-specific to either Android or iOS. Native apps are written in languages supported by the device’s operating system vendor:
Android languages: Kotlin and Java. Android Studio is the development environment
iOS languages: Swift, Objective-C. Xcode is the development environment.
Flutter VS. Native: A Comparative Analysis
Flutter allows developers to write a single piece of code for multiple different platforms, significantly reducing development time and cost. When compared to native codes, Flutter codes are simpler to write. When it comes to native technologies, developers must write two sets of code for Android and iOS, which inevitably takes more time.
Code maintenance
Flutter
A Flutter app is easier to manage because you only need to maintain one codebase for both iOS and Android apps. This ease of use assists developers in identifying problems, locating and utilizing external tools and integrating third-party sources. When compared to native structures, the time required to release updates and change app features and specifications is shorter. This allows for greater flexibility, which improves business stability.
Native Technologies
Because you will need to program your app for multiple platforms, maintaining a native app is time-consuming and costly. Maintaining two different codebases, for example, necessitates the developer to identify bugs and issues for each platform and create additional updates on a regular basis. Furthermore, the cost of maintenance rises as the number of supported operating system devices grows.
Application performance
Flutter
Without the use of a bridge, Flutter can communicate with native modules. Since native components are available by default, this is possible. The “hello world app” performs at 60FPS according to the performance metric used by an average device. As a result, the time required to render each structure is limited to 16 milliseconds. Flutter makes use of the Skia graphics library, which allows the UI to be redrawn whenever the app view changes. Flutter achieves an efficient performance at 60 FPS, with the potential to reach 120 FPS. Furthermore, the number of dropped frames has decreased.
Native Technologies
Android and iOS apps perform admirably without the use of any external library kit. The native performance functionality is responsible for this performance. Native apps perform admirably at 60 and 120 frames per second. Furthermore, performance does not suffer in apps that use core animation. Native technologies can load to RAM up to a maximum of 30-45% of the overall GPU performance. As a result, if you have a large app, native technologies can consume up to 118 MiB of device memory. Native technologies may overload your device indefinitely unless you use a specific external SDK alternative to improve performance while consuming little memory.
Speed & cost of development
Flutter
Flutter follows the write once, run anywhere design principle. This enables the developer to write a single piece of code that works on both the iOS and Android platforms. This method reduces the cost and time required to develop platforms. Flutter makes it simple for developers to write code. Furthermore, the codes are simpler to comprehend. Due to the low cost of training, even inexperienced developers can quickly learn.
Native Technologies
The time it takes to create an app using native technologies is determined by your budget, timeline, and scalability. The primary goal of developing small-scale and enterprise-level apps using native technologies is to meet the expectations of Android and iOS users. The development team may be larger in this case, or there may be two separate teams for Android and iOS. This approach increases the investment budget because the teams must write two codes for different platforms.
Native features & integration capacities
Flutter
The integration of complex features from external sources and plugins is much easier with Flutter. Developers who understand the Dart language and functionalities, on the other hand, consider such integration to be more advanced. Specific features for Android and iOS necessitate the use of add-on plugins such as Android Archive and CocoaPods. The Flutter system, on the other hand, has a fixed maximum capacity for incorporating native modules via the default XCode of Android Studio. The Flutter documentation provides step-by-step instructions for overcoming any obstacle. This aids in the integration of the app for both Android and iOS. As a result, it may shorten the time it takes to get the app to market. However, because Flutter helps to reduce costs, this is mostly ignored.
It should also be noted that Flutter works well with the most recent iOS device releases. It does, however, have drawbacks, which may cause functionality fluctuations with each update.
Native Technologies
The integration of iOS and Android via various frameworks and programming languages vary depending on the software design pattern and app performance. The majority of native frameworks used to develop iOS apps provide enhanced safety and expressive features, as well as the possibility of faster integration.
Pros and Cons of Flutter
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Pros and Cons of Native Technology
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Conclusion
We hope that this blog helps you lay the groundwork for the technology with which you intend to work. Our main goal is for you to use this information to start a conversation with your team in a language that both of you can understand. Both React Technology and Flutter have their respective aspects and you are free to go for whichever suits you and your business best!
