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Flutter in 7 Days Ipsi Patro

Flutter in 7 Days is a comprehensive guide designed to help readers master Flutter, a powerful framework for cross-platform mobile app development, in just one week. The book covers essential topics such as setting up the development environment, building user interfaces, state management, and integrating with Firebase, providing a step-by-step learning experience. Authored by Ipsi Patro, the book aims to empower both newcomers and experienced developers to create exceptional mobile applications.
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© © All Rights Reserved
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
51 views23 pages

Flutter in 7 Days Ipsi Patro

Flutter in 7 Days is a comprehensive guide designed to help readers master Flutter, a powerful framework for cross-platform mobile app development, in just one week. The book covers essential topics such as setting up the development environment, building user interfaces, state management, and integrating with Firebase, providing a step-by-step learning experience. Authored by Ipsi Patro, the book aims to empower both newcomers and experienced developers to create exceptional mobile applications.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 23

Flutter in

7 Days
Build user-friendly apps with
widgets and navigation

Ipsi Patro

www.bpbonline.com
ii 
First Edition 2024

Copyright © BPB Publications, India

ISBN: 978-93-55516-091

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in
any form or by any means or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written
permission of the publisher with the exception to the program listings which may be entered,
stored and executed in a computer system, but they can not be reproduced by the means of
publication, photocopy, recording, or by any electronic and mechanical means.

LIMITS OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY


The information contained in this book is true to correct and the best of author’s and publisher’s
knowledge. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of these publications, but
publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from any information in
this book.

All trademarks referred to in the book are acknowledged as properties of their respective
owners but BPB Publications cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

www.bpbonline.com
 iii

Dedicated to
To my beloved husband, Sanat Patro,
and my two sons, Arnav Patro and Vivaan Patro
iv 

About the Author

Ipsi Patro is a software engineer with extensive experience in mobile platforms, excelling
in both native and hybrid environments. She graduated with a B.Tech degree and has
since worked at renowned companies such as Tata Consultancy Services in India, Vitality,
and OvalMoney in the UK, among several others. Currently serving as the Head of
Engineering at Twyn in the UK, Ipsi has consistently showcased outstanding leadership
and managerial skills, effectively guiding mobile development teams with proficiency.
Motivated by an insatiable curiosity and a dedication to remaining at the forefront
of technology, Ipsi immersed herself in mastering Flutter and Dart, swiftly achieving
proficiency in both. Her technical expertise spans various programming languages,
frameworks, and tools, complemented by a deep understanding of software architecture,
agile methodologies, and DevOps practices. These capabilities have empowered her to
successfully oversee complex projects from conception through deployment.
Beyond her technical accomplishments, Ipsi is passionate about knowledge-sharing.
Her extensive hands-on experience with Flutter projects, coupled with a natural talent
for teaching, enables her to articulate complex concepts clearly and accessibly. She firmly
believes in the transformative impact of education and is committed to empowering
aspiring developers to fulfill their potential.
When not deeply engaged in coding or teaching, Ipsi enjoys pursuits such as listening to
music, gardening, cooking, and exploring the outdoors. Actively involved in developer
communities, she collaborates with peers to exchange insights and deepen her knowledge.
Ipsi’s book, Flutter in 7 Days, reflects her deep expertise and passion for Flutter
development. She hopes this guide will empower readers to embark on their own Flutter
journey and create exceptional mobile applications.
 v

About the Reviewer

SriSindhu Pydimukkala is a seasoned software engineer with a strong foundation


in Android development and a burgeoning expertise in Flutter. With seven years of
experience in Android development, SriSindhu brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh
perspective to the world of cross-platform mobile app development.
Graduating with a B.Tech degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University,
SriSindhu embarked on a dynamic career journey, collaborating with industry-leading
companies such as OvalMoney and presently serving as a Staff Software Engineer at
BlueYonder. Throughout her professional tenure, SriSindhu has demonstrated exceptional
leadership skills, having led mobile development teams with finesse and efficiency.
SriSindhu’s proficiency spans a wide spectrum of Android development, encompassing
frameworks, app architecture, memory management, multi-threading, development tools,
debugging, problem-solving, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Pair Programming, and
deployment strategies. Her commitment to excellence and knack for taking ownership of
projects have propelled her to success in delivering high-quality Android applications that
meet and exceed client expectations.
Outside of her professional endeavors, SriSindhu enjoys cooking up culinary delights
in the kitchen, embarking on adventures to new destinations around the globe, and
cherishing quality time with family. Her passion for technology is matched only by her
love for exploring new flavors, cultures, and experiences, making her a well-rounded
individual with a thirst for knowledge and a zest for life.
vi 

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family and friends for their unwavering
support and encouragement throughout the writing of this book. A special thanks to my
beloved husband, Sanat Patro, and my two sons, Arnav Patro and Vivaan Patro, whose
love and patience have been my greatest source of strength.

I am also profoundly grateful to BPB Publications for their guidance and expertise in
bringing this book to fruition. This journey involved numerous revisions and benefited
immensely from the participation and collaboration of reviewers, technical experts, and
editors.

I would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of my colleagues and co-workers


during my many years in the tech industry. Their insights and feedback have significantly
shaped my understanding and approach to mobile app development.

Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the readers who have shown interest in my
book. Your support and enthusiasm have been invaluable in making this book a reality.
Thank you for embarking on this journey with me.
 vii

Preface

Welcome to Flutter in 7 Days! If you are holding this book, you have taken the first step
towards mastering one of the most versatile and powerful frameworks for building cross-
platform applications. Whether you are a seasoned developer looking to expand your skill
set or a newcomer eager to dive into the world of mobile app development, this book is
designed to be your comprehensive guide to learning Flutter in just seven days.

In today’s fast-paced world, the demand for high-quality mobile applications is ever-
increasing. Flutter, with its robust set of features and unparalleled flexibility, has emerged
as a frontrunner in the realm of cross-platform development. With Flutter, you can create
stunning user interfaces, leverage a single codebase to deploy apps on multiple platforms,
and enjoy blazing-fast performance – all without compromising on quality or user
experience.

Flutter in 7 Days is structured to provide you with a step-by-step journey through the
fundamentals of Flutter development. Each day is carefully crafted to build upon the
concepts learned in the previous days, ensuring a smooth and progressive learning
experience. From setting up your development environment to building complex UI
layouts, handling user input, and integrating with backend services, this book covers
everything you need to know to become proficient in Flutter development.

Throughout this book, you will find a balance of theoretical explanations, practical
examples, and hands-on exercises to reinforce your learning. Whether you prefer to read
through concepts, follow along with code examples, or roll up your sleeves and dive into
coding challenges, you’ll find something here to suit your learning style.

As you embark on this seven-day journey, remember that learning Flutter – like any new
skill – takes time, patience, and practice. Do not be discouraged by challenges or setbacks
along the way. Embrace them as opportunities to deepen your understanding and grow
as a developer.

By the end of Flutter in 7 Days, you will have the knowledge and confidence to tackle real-
world Flutter projects with ease. Whether you are building your own apps, contributing to
open-source projects, or launching your career as a Flutter developer, this book will serve
as your trusted companion on your Flutter journey.
viii 
So, without further ado, let us embark on this exciting adventure into the world of Flutter
development. Get ready to unleash your creativity, build amazing apps, and take your
skills to new heights. The next seven days are going to be both challenging and rewarding
– let us make the most of them!

Chapter 1: Day 1– Getting Started with Flutter and Dart

This chapter introduces Flutter and Dart, guiding you through setting up your development
environment and creating your first Flutter project. You will gain an understanding of the
Flutter project structure and write your first Dart code.

Chapter 2: Day 2– Basic Programming Concepts

In this chapter, you will learn about variables and data types in Dart, control flow
mechanisms such as loops and conditionals, and the fundamentals of functions and
methods. Additionally, you will explore object-oriented programming basics in Dart and
engage in hands-on exercises to reinforce these concepts.

Chapter 3: Day 3– First Flutter App

This chapter delves into the Flutter widget tree, teaching you how to create layouts
with widgets and handle user input through gestures and interactions. You will learn to
navigate between screens and build a simple app from scratch.

Chapter 4: Day 4– Flutter Widgets

Here, you will get an overview of commonly used Flutter widgets, including container
widgets for layout and styling, and text and image widgets for displaying content. The
chapter also covers ListView and GridView for creating scrolling lists and grids, as well as
exploring advanced widgets and customizing their behavior.

Chapter 5: Day 5– Prep Up with Advanced Flutter

This chapter focuses on state management in Flutter, understanding the widget lifecycle,
and using packages and plugins to extend Flutter’s functionality. Additionally, you will
explore Flutter’s animation capabilities and learn techniques for optimizing performance
and debugging.

Chapter 6: Day 6– Fetching Data Internet

In this chapter, you will learn how to make HTTP requests in Flutter and handle
asynchronous operations using Futures and Streams. You will also learn to parse JSON
data, display remote data in your Flutter app, and implement error handling and loading
indicators.
 ix

Chapter 7: Day 7– Firebase Integration to Flutter App

This chapter introduces Firebase and its services, guiding you through setting up Firebase
for your Flutter project. You will learn to integrate Firebase Authentication, store and
retrieve data with Cloud Firestore, and implement real-time updates with Firebase Cloud
Messaging.

Chapter 8: Miscellaneous

The final chapter offers tips and best practices for Flutter development, guidance on
deploying your Flutter app to different platforms, and resources for further learning and
exploration. It also addresses troubleshooting common issues and exploring advanced
topics and next steps in your Flutter journey.
x 

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Please follow the link to download the
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 xi

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xii 

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started with Flutter and Dart................................................................................ 1


Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1
Structure.................................................................................................................................. 1
Objectives................................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction to flutter and dart........................................................................................... 2
Understanding Flutter.......................................................................................................... 5
Defining Dart......................................................................................................................... 5
Flutter Architecture............................................................................................................ 5
Installation in windows........................................................................................................ 6
Installing Flutter SDK....................................................................................................... 6
Installing Android Studio.................................................................................................. 8
Installation in Mac............................................................................................................... 11
Installing Flutter SDK..................................................................................................... 12
Installing Android studio................................................................................................. 13
iOS Setup.......................................................................................................................... 14
Updating some configurations for Android Studio.................................................... 15
IDEs for Flutter.................................................................................................................... 17
Features of IDE................................................................................................................. 17
Compilation logic of Flutter code..................................................................................... 20
Dartpad................................................................................................................................. 20
Function................................................................................................................................ 20
Dart data types..................................................................................................................... 21
Dart variables....................................................................................................................... 21
Dart classes and objects...................................................................................................... 22
Dart List................................................................................................................................ 23
Dart map............................................................................................................................... 24
Null safety in Dart............................................................................................................... 25
Non-nullable types............................................................................................................ 25
Nullable types................................................................................................................... 25
String Interpolation............................................................................................................. 26
 xiii

Further reading.................................................................................................................... 26
Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 26
Questions.............................................................................................................................. 27
Answers............................................................................................................................ 27
Multiple choice questions................................................................................................... 28
Answers............................................................................................................................ 28

2. Basic Programming Concepts............................................................................................. 29


Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 29
Structure................................................................................................................................ 29
Objectives.............................................................................................................................. 29
Object oriented programming........................................................................................... 30
Class.................................................................................................................................. 30
Object................................................................................................................................ 31
Inheritance........................................................................................................................ 33
Polymorphism................................................................................................................... 34
Advantage of polymorphism in Dart................................................................................ 35
Interface............................................................................................................................ 36
Abstract class.................................................................................................................... 38
Data encapsulation........................................................................................................... 40
Dart mixins....................................................................................................................... 42
Enum................................................................................................................................ 44
Type inference................................................................................................................... 47
Generics............................................................................................................................ 48
Anonymous functions...................................................................................................... 50
Loops................................................................................................................................. 51
For loop........................................................................................................................ 52
for in............................................................................................................................ 52
While loop.................................................................................................................... 53
Do while loop............................................................................................................... 54
VoidCallBack..................................................................................................................... 55
Function(n)....................................................................................................................... 57
Arrow functions................................................................................................................ 60
Ternary operator............................................................................................................... 61
xiv 
Introduction to Git............................................................................................................... 62
Difference between Git and Git hosting tool.................................................................... 63
Async await.......................................................................................................................... 64
Future............................................................................................................................... 66
Stream............................................................................................................................... 66
Completed.................................................................................................................... 66
Uncompleted................................................................................................................ 66
Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 68

3. First Flutter App.................................................................................................................... 69


Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 69
Structure................................................................................................................................ 69
Objectives.............................................................................................................................. 70
Build your first Flutter project........................................................................................... 70
Folder structure................................................................................................................ 73
pubspec.yaml..................................................................................................................... 73
pubspec.lock...................................................................................................................... 75
Code formatting tips........................................................................................................... 75
Closing labels.................................................................................................................... 78
Debug banner................................................................................................................... 79
Sample app........................................................................................................................... 80
Widget................................................................................................................................... 81
Widget tree........................................................................................................................ 82
MaterialApp...................................................................................................................... 83
Scaffold........................................................................................................................ 83
Run the app in a simulator/emulator.............................................................................. 84
Run the app in a physical device...................................................................................... 84
Running on Android device............................................................................................. 84
Deploy app to iOS devices................................................................................................ 92
App icon................................................................................................................................ 95
Hot Reload............................................................................................................................ 98
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 100
Multiple Choice Questions............................................................................................... 101
Answers.......................................................................................................................... 101
 xv

4. Flutter Widgets.................................................................................................................... 103


Introduction........................................................................................................................ 103
Structure.............................................................................................................................. 103
Layout widgets.................................................................................................................. 104
Single-child layout widgets............................................................................................ 104
Container widget....................................................................................................... 104
Safe area..................................................................................................................... 107
Margin and padding................................................................................................. 108
Padding widget..........................................................................................................111
Centre widget............................................................................................................ 112
Align widget.............................................................................................................. 114
Multi-child layout widgets............................................................................................. 117
Column...................................................................................................................... 117
Row............................................................................................................................ 120
Stack.......................................................................................................................... 122
List View.................................................................................................................... 125
GridView................................................................................................................... 127
Tab Bar....................................................................................................................... 129
Sliver Widget...................................................................................................................... 130
Asset image and network image widget....................................................................... 132
Asset image..................................................................................................................... 132
Network image................................................................................................................ 133
Card Widget....................................................................................................................... 134
Inkwell widget................................................................................................................... 135
Widget styling.................................................................................................................... 135
Stateless and stateful widgets.......................................................................................... 136
Material and Cupertino widgets..................................................................................... 142
Material widgets............................................................................................................. 142
Cupertino widgets........................................................................................................... 143
Divider widget................................................................................................................... 144
Slider widget...................................................................................................................... 145
DropdownButton widget................................................................................................. 146
Bottom sheet Widget......................................................................................................... 148
xvi 
ListTile Widget................................................................................................................... 150
Animations in Flutter........................................................................................................ 152
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 158
Multiple choice questions................................................................................................. 158
Answer............................................................................................................................ 160
Exercises.............................................................................................................................. 160

5. Prep Up with Advanced Flutter....................................................................................... 165


Introduction........................................................................................................................ 165
Structure.............................................................................................................................. 165
Flutter themes.................................................................................................................... 166
.of and .copyWith operator:............................................................................................. 174
.of operator...................................................................................................................... 174
.copyWith operator.......................................................................................................... 176
Custom widgets................................................................................................................. 178
Flutter packages................................................................................................................. 183
Gesture detection............................................................................................................... 186
Pass function as parameter.............................................................................................. 190
Routing and navigation.................................................................................................... 193
Mixin................................................................................................................................... 203
Selecting platform specific widget.................................................................................. 205
Data persistence in Flutter apps...................................................................................... 207
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 209
Multiple choice questions................................................................................................. 210
Answers.......................................................................................................................... 211

6. Fetch Data from Internet................................................................................................... 213


Introduction........................................................................................................................ 213
Structure.............................................................................................................................. 213
Objectives............................................................................................................................ 214
Network call with http library in Flutter....................................................................... 214
Futures in Flutter............................................................................................................... 217
Future............................................................................................................................. 217
FutureBuilder............................................................................................................ 217
 xvii

Async/Await.............................................................................................................. 218
Parsing JSON...................................................................................................................... 219
Spinner widget................................................................................................................... 226
Passing data backwards through navigator.................................................................. 227
Sending data from the destination screen....................................................................... 227
Receiving data in the previous screen:............................................................................ 227
Location service................................................................................................................. 228
Sample app with networking call................................................................................... 230
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 240
Multiple choice questions................................................................................................. 240
Answers.......................................................................................................................... 241

7. Firebase Integration to Flutter App................................................................................. 243


Introduction........................................................................................................................ 243
Structure.............................................................................................................................. 243
Objectives............................................................................................................................ 244
Introduction to Firebase................................................................................................... 244
Defining Firebase............................................................................................................ 244
Key Firebase services....................................................................................................... 244
Advantages of selecting Firebase for Flutter.................................................................. 245
Setting up Firebase project............................................................................................... 245
Adding Flutter app to Firebase project........................................................................... 249
Firebase authentication..................................................................................................... 257
Cloud Firestore integration.............................................................................................. 269
CRUD operations with Cloud Firestore in Flutter....................................................... 271
Dart Streams....................................................................................................................... 279
StreamBuilder.................................................................................................................... 281
Async Snapshot................................................................................................................. 284
QuerySnapshot.................................................................................................................. 285
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 288
Multiple Choice Questions............................................................................................... 289
Answers.......................................................................................................................... 290
xviii 
8. Miscellaneous...................................................................................................................... 291
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 291
Structure.............................................................................................................................. 291
Introduction to the Provider package............................................................................. 292
Riverpod............................................................................................................................. 294
Flutter versions.................................................................................................................. 296
Design patterns in Flutter................................................................................................. 297
Model-View-ViewModel................................................................................................. 298
Model-View-Presenter.................................................................................................... 299
Model-View-Controller................................................................................................... 299
Business Logic Component design patterns................................................................. 300
Unit testing......................................................................................................................... 303
Tips for writing unit tests............................................................................................... 306
Debugging.......................................................................................................................... 306
Publishing app in an app store........................................................................................ 307
Publish your Flutter app on the Play Store.................................................................... 309
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 311

Index...............................................................................................................................313-317
Chapter 1
Getting Started with
Flutter and Dart

Introduction
Hello readers welcome onboard to the journey of becoming a Flutter developer. In this
chapter, first we will go through the installation steps to bring your machine ready for
Flutter development and then we will go through some basic concepts of Flutter and Dart.

Structure
The chapter covers the following topics:
• Introduction to Flutter and Dart
• Understanding Flutter
• Defining Dart
• Installation in Windows
• Installation in Mac
• IDEs for Flutter
• Compilation logic of flutter
• Dartpad
• Function
• Dart data types
2  Flutter in 7 Days

• Dart Variables
• Dart Classes and Objects
• Dart List
• Dart Map
• Null Safety in Dart
• String Interpolation

Objectives
By the end of this chapter, your machine must be ready for Flutter development, and you
will get a good understanding of which IDE to pick and some important features provided
by the IDE to make your development easier and faster. Along with that, some important
and fundamental Flutter and Dart concepts will also be discussed.

Introduction to flutter and dart


In this book, we will learn Flutter from scratch to build fast, beautiful, native-quality
iOS and Android Apps using just one code base and one programming language called
Dart. Flutter is a tool developed by Google that can be used to build cross-platform iOS,
Android, and web apps. It comes with loads of pre-built widgets, which makes it easier
to layout any app. Flutter widgets are built using a modern framework inspired by Web
Design.
Flutter just asks for a blank window and draws the widgets in it. Everything in a Flutter
app is a widget, so we build a widget upon a widget. You can create your own widget or
customize the pre-built widgets as per your requirements. One good thing about Flutter is
when you are working with it, you get access to the original source code because it is open-
source. If you want to know how an App bar is implemented, just click on the widget, and
you can view it. If you are from an iOS development background, you must have noticed
that the same thing is not possible in iOS. In iOS, many components are proprietary, so you
will not be able to access them.
The term Flutter refers to two major things:
• The SDK contains many tools to compile the dart code to native machine code,
which can run on iOS and Android platforms.
• It is a widget library that helps build beautiful apps.
In addition to Flutter, Dart is a fundamental aspect of app development with Flutter. Dart
is the programming language utilized for writing code in Flutter. It was developed by
Google and is designed for building fast, scalable, and efficient applications. Dart is a
statically typed language with a syntax that is familiar to those who have experience with
languages like Java or JavaScript.
Getting Started with Flutter and Dart  3

Here are some key features of Dart:


• Object-oriented: Dart is an object-oriented language, which means it supports
concepts like classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism. This makes it easy
to organize code and build complex applications.
• Strongly typed: Dart is a statically typed language, meaning that variables are
explicitly declared with their data types. This helps catch errors at compile-time
and improves code robustness.
• Asynchronous programming: Dart provides built-in support for asynchronous
programming using features like async and await. This allows developers to write
code that can handle multiple tasks concurrently, such as making network requests
or performing file I/O operations, without blocking the main execution thread.
• Garbage collection: Dart includes automatic memory management through
garbage collection. Developers do not need to manually allocate and deallocate
memory, making memory management less error-prone.
• Package management: Dart has a robust package management system called
Pub. Developers can use Pub to easily manage dependencies and share their own
packages with the community.
• Cross-platform development: While Dart is primarily associated with Flutter for
mobile app development, it can also be used for server-side and web development.
This versatility allows developers to use Dart for a wide range of projects beyond
just mobile apps.
Understanding Dart is essential for effectively utilizing Flutter's capabilities to build
powerful and feature-rich mobile applications. By mastering Dart, developers can leverage
their strengths to write clean, efficient code that powers Flutter apps across multiple
platforms.
Let us delve into a comprehensive comparison between Flutter and other popular
frameworks to understand their respective strengths, weaknesses, and unique features in
the realm of cross-platform mobile app development.
• Flutter vs. React Native
o React Native, developed by Facebook, allows developers to build cross-platform
mobile apps using JavaScript and React.
o In Flutter, everything is a widget, which provides a more consistent and
streamlined development experience compared to React Native's mix of native
components and JavaScript.
o Flutter uses a compiled programming language (Dart), which can result in
better performance and more predictable behavior compared to React Native's
JavaScript runtime.
4  Flutter in 7 Days

o Hot Reload in Flutter offers a faster development cycle compared to React


Native's Hot Reload, as it updates the entire UI tree rather than just the
JavaScript code.
• Flutter vs. Xamarin
o Xamarin, owned by Microsoft, enables developers to build cross-platform
mobile apps using C# and .NET.
o Flutter's UI is rendered using Skia, a high-performance 2D graphics library,
which can result in smoother animations and transitions compared to
Xamarin's native UI approach.
o Flutter offers a more consistent development experience across platforms
since it uses a single codebase, while Xamarin requires separate UI code for
each platform.
o Dart's Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation in Flutter can lead to faster startup
times and reduced runtime overhead compared to Xamarin's Just-in-Time
(JIT) compilation.
• Flutter vs. Native Development (iOS/Android)
o Native development involves using platform-specific languages (Swift/
Objective-C for iOS, Java/Kotlin for Android) and APIs to build apps.
o Flutter offers faster development cycles and a more productive workflow
compared to native development, thanks to features like Hot Reload and a
single codebase for multiple platforms.
o While native development provides access to platform-specific APIs and
features, Flutter's extensive widget library and platform channels allow
developers to achieve native-like behavior and performance.
o Flutter's UI is rendered using Skia, which may result in slightly different visual
rendering compared to native components, though Flutter's customizable
widgets can often achieve the desired look and feel.
In summary, Flutter's use of a single codebase, fast development cycles, high-performance
rendering engine, and customizable widgets make it a compelling choice for cross-platform
mobile app development, offering unique advantages over other frameworks like React
Native, Xamarin, and native development. Additional advantages of Flutter, such as Hot
Reload and strong community support, can provide further insights into its appeal. Here
is an expanded comparison with these advantages:
• Hot Reload for Rapid Development:
o Flutter's Hot Reload feature allows developers to instantly see changes made
to the code reflected in the app's UI without restarting the app or losing its
current state.
Getting Started with Flutter and Dart  5

o This iterative development process significantly reduces development time by


enabling developers to experiment, iterate, and refine UI elements and features
rapidly.
o In contrast, other frameworks like React Native and Xamarin offer similar
features, but Flutter's Hot Reload is often praised for its speed and reliability,
making the development experience smoother and more efficient.
• Strong community support:
o Flutter benefits from a large and active community of developers, enthusiasts,
and contributors who provide extensive support, resources, and collaboration
opportunities.
o The Flutter community actively shares knowledge, best practices, libraries,
packages, and plugins through platforms like GitHub, Stack Overflow,
Medium, and various forums and meetups.
o This vibrant community ecosystem fosters innovation, accelerates learning
curves, and addresses challenges faced by developers, making it easier to find
solutions and resources for building Flutter apps.
o Additionally, Google's continued investment in Flutter and its commitment
to open-source development further bolster community engagement and
contribute to the framework's growth and evolution.

Understanding Flutter
Google has introduced Flutter for native mobile app development on Android, iOS, and
Windows. Flutter is a mobile app SDK, complete with framework, widgets, and tools,
that gives developers a way to build and deploy mobile apps written in Dart. So, before
moving ahead with learning Flutter, we will cover Dart basics later in this chapter. If you
have prior experience of software development with any language, you must be familiar
with these basics, but if you do not have any, it will be helpful for you in this journey.

Defining Dart
Dart is a programming language designed for client development, such as for the web and
mobile apps. It is developed by Google and can also be used to build server and desktop
applications. It is an object-oriented, class-based, garbage-collected language with C-style
syntax.

Flutter Architecture
With UI as code, there is no visual editor in Flutter like native iOS and Android development.
Therefore, no drag and drop of widgets; instead, write the code for adding and updating

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