When it comes to cross-platform app development with a well-organized UI and powerful native performance, some developers rate Flutter higher than React Native. What prompts them to choose the former between the two options for cross-platform application development? Read on to find it out.
What is React Native?
React Native (RN) is a renowned open-source framework for the development of native applications for Android and iOS platforms. Developers use the combination of JavaScript and XML-esque to write it.
What makes RN special in the eye of developers across the globe is its association with Facebook, which is considered as the social media giant at present. As a result, several reputed software engineers work together as a team to upgrade it.
In particular, (RN) is useful for the following:
- Apps involving synchronous APIs
- Applications that work with reusable components
- Simplified UI-based applications
- Applications featuring a quick prototype
- Simplified cross-platform applications
- Apps with a virtual-native resemblance that is compatible with Flexbox and have a responsive UX
Some popular applications that have been developed using this framework include the following:
- Walmart
- Bloomberg
- SoundCloud
- Wix
What is Flutter?
Flutter is another popular framework for the development of a wide range of applications across multiple platforms. It operates on the Dart language and developers prefer it over the other options as it is an open-source framework.
The specialty of Flutter lies in its ability to offer assistance in the development of cross-platform apps. Most developers choose it as it favors the utilization of the same codebase on both Android and iOS platforms.
It offers a feature-rich and flexible UI without compromising the native performance of the resulting applications. Being a part of Google, it abounds with resources to help the developers find a solution to almost all kinds of problems corresponding to its use.
Flutter can come in handy for the following:
- Reactivation of applications through a larger set of data integration
- Flexible development of UI featuring high-level widgets
- Development of OS plugins with less-complicated logic
- Apps with features at the level of the OS
- Applications involving material design
- MVP applications for mobile devices
Well-known applications that are based on Flutter include the following:
- Google Ads
- Google Pay
- Tencent
- Alibaba
- eBay
- BMW
- Reflectly
Factors that keep Flutter miles ahead of React Native for the development of applications
Ever since the extension of Flutter for the development of web-based and Linux applications, it became the main competitor to React Native.
At present, it is the default framework for the development of both mobile and web applications due to the following factors:
1. It is the quick fix to the challenge of app development
On average, the development of an application takes a lot of time and effort. Developers try their best to cut down the workload as much as they can.
Flutter has all the attributes in the book with which developers of a Flutter app development company can reduce their workload. It possesses the hot reload feature which allows developers to not only remove the unnecessary features but also do a lot more.
For instance, they can test various issues in an application in the development phase and resolve them. Similarly, several other characteristics facilitate and expedite the process of app development.
2. Flexible and intuitive UI
Flutter offers an amazing platform for the creation of beautiful applications that are comparable with native apps in terms of end-user experience. What’s more, it facilitates the management of pixels on the screen through an architecture featuring multiple layers.
Equally impressive are Flutter’s exciting options for customization and animation. Overlaying the animated videos, texts, and graphics in applications is simple and easy with the Flutter framework.
While getting the requisite information for material design can be challenging with certain frameworks, developers can expect support from Material.io for Flutter.
3. Flutter facilitates native performance on both Android and iOS
Most developers target the native-like performance of applications on Android and iOS for attaining the goal of the best user experience on both platforms.
Flutter boasts a collection of widgets that lend a helping hand to this initiative with key platform-based differences such as fonts, icons, navigation, and scrolling.
4. Compatibility of Flutter with Dart
Sometimes writing codes can be a challenging task for developers in the developmental phase of applications. No matter how well-versed a developer is in writing codes, this can beat even the experts on any given day. When it comes to the development of applications, developers face the dual challenges of sorting out the coding as well as writing the codes.
To help developers overcome this challenge, Google has developed the Dart programming language. It allows developers to write down the codes for web, mobile, and desktop applications.
The compatibility of Flutter with this programming language is a big plus factor for developers. Dart language not only favors a faster development of applications but also favors compatibility with multiple platforms.
When you add up both the features, it translates into the faster development of apps for multiple platforms. What can be a more valuable asset to a developer than a platform that helps accomplish both these tasks at once?
The combination of Flutter and Dart offers a viable solution to meet the challenges related to the customization of widgets.
5. Flutter provides several useful tools
Flutter supports the development of applications by two key tools: visual and studio code.
Dart Dev Tools offers many features, ranging from debugging to inspection, with a flexible approach. Other than simplifying the inspection and debugging, it also enables developers to view logs in connection with the development of applications.
Dart Dev Tools comprises of the following features:
- Widget inspector
- Timeline view
- Source-level debugger
- Logging view
React Native vs. Flutter: table-wise comparison of features
| Features | React Native | Flutter |
| Year of release | 2015 | 2017 |
| Creator | ||
| Programming language | JavaScript | Dart |
| Architecture | Flux & Redux | BLoC |
| Documentation | Complex and needs the expertise to follow | Simple and easy to follow |
| Integrated Development Environment (IDE) | Multiple tools and IDEs | Android Studio and Visual Code Studio |
| Nature of native appearance | Less | More |
| Compatibility with 3D | No | Yes |
| App performance | Low performance due to the mandatory use of a bridge | High performance at 60 fps |
Conclusion
The above-mentioned factors explain why React Native has lesser functionalities than Flutter. Unlike the former, the latter does not need a bridge for the communication between modules. Plus, it also has a lesser dependency. Given that both frameworks have their pros and cons, developers can make a choice depending on their project.
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