So, who am I to say these such controversial things. Well I am a flutter developer and I have made apps. I have published apps on play store and also made apps as freelancer and stuff. I have been using flutter for more than a year now and also I chose flutter because I know web development.
Here's how my journey started, So I have been making websites and I was kind of always wanted to make complete mobile apps. (PS: Well I am Not The Only, Everyone has that wish to create an app of their own.)
I have been using normal HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I have also learned React. So, I make websites with the latest tech stacks and also the stable ones. I prefer API's over server side rendering because of it's versatile nature of able to use the same api for both websites and apps
In the case when you want to scale your business from websites to apps, all you gotta do is to add that just plug and play the api in to the app that you want to build.
So, I switched over from Django to Flask and I have used flask for sometime and then I tried out nodejs and the ExpressJS library and fell in love with the MERN stack, since I already knew React.
It was really amazing to use that stack and then I made websites over websites with that stack. So, Now I got bored and I wanted to try out something and I had a spare 15 days of free time,
Then I started learning flutter and as usual, I went to udemy to find a course on the flutter sdk. I will link the course below as well.
So this is the course that I took myself and I would give this course 4.9 out 5, It had almost everything that I wanted but the content for state management over large scale other than the component, was missing so I had to read some articles and blog posts from fellow flutter bloggers.
Click here to get the course, I would really recommend you if you want to learn flutter. I completed this course within 8 days or 9 days. I think so.
Then I made some cool UI's that I found in dribbble and pinterest, if you don't know what those two are, they are platform where you can find some inspirations and amazing content from talented UI Developers.
Unfortunately I am not the best and trendiest UI designer, So I always take reference from these platforms, Well I don't copy them. I just try making my own designs and patterns from the inspiration.
But before I started learning flutter, let me tell you how I found out about flutter. So as I said I was just wondering How do I create an android app of my own but I couldn't come with a choice.
Since I knew all the choices that I have: Kotlin, Java, Flutter, Xamarin, React Native, Ionic and stuff. but I wanted the best one among them,
And I have watched dozens of videos and tried to find the best choice for myself and then I discovered flutter.
So, it was mentioned that this is king in everything and the only drawback that I found is that, you cannot have complete access to the low level api's of the device such as gps, bluetooth and stuff.
I know we do have access to it but it is only through some plugins and stuff, that's what they were saying if some of those dependencies or plugins is not properly managed and kept out of date then we know that we won't anymore have access to it.
So this was the only drawback,
What I like about Flutter?
Well I like almost everything about flutter though, If I have to be specifically saying a feature that I like in flutter is that.
- The Hot Reload, this feature is what I like the most, since you can lively see every single change that you make. It might seem small but when you try making an app. You will find the great benefit of this feature if you try out Kotlin.
- The Best Layout System, I don't know is that what all the developers feel but I feel this way because of my web developer background. Whatever layout you work with flutter, it almost feels like I already know how to do that layout.
- Plugins, I love these because these things reduce the total timing of my whole developing time.
These are the things that I like about flutter.
What are the harsh truths that isn't said else where?
Before I say anything, I just want to say this is my opinion. If you don't like it, it's upto you but If you feel that I am wrong, then maybe am an idiot.
Flutter is slow, considering native languages. Yea that's true and I really experienced it and you might have as well but you wouldn't have noticed.
Try installing an app that is built with the native language of the platform and then compare both of your apps on the speed like the first time opening load time, the transition smoothness and stuff.
This really happens and I am not seriously joking.
The second thing is that, Flutter has little more unwanted codes even for the hello world application with Java/Kotlin.
It's just that flutter adds a little more bloatware to your app.
Conclusion
I mean the drawback is really not that big, considering all the advantages that you get from it. Personally I like flutter still, But my thinking has now moved from "Flutter is really best in everything and you can any app with it" but now it is "Flutter is great though, but still there certain criteria that we have consider before making any app."
Well that's what I think, comment down below. What you think of my thinking and also my drawbacks,
Anyways, Happy Hacking!