Which development software is best for you?
In this article, we will be comparing Flutter versus React Native to see which is the prudent choice for your next software app. Flutter is Google’s open-source framework for writing cross-platform native apps in the Dart programming language. It has been designed from the ground up with mobile considerations in mind, supporting both iOS and Android out of the box. It also doesn’t rely on a JavaScript bridge like React Native does.
That said, if you’re looking to build an app that runs on Windows or macOS without relying on third-party libraries, then React Native might be a better option.
Let’s have a closer look here at their respective pro’s and con’s so you can see what’s best for you….
Flutter
Flutter was launched by Google in 2019 to meet the need to develop apps for iOS and Android all in one go- previously needing to be built separately for each. And though that’s the main advantage using it gives you- and it’s enough by itself really!- that’s far from all it has going for it.
Pro’s
- Quicker development process: Using Flutter, there’s no need to write different code when developing iOS and Android apps. It uses the same UI to run applications on other operating systems and requires less testing by the app.
- Support for multiple devices: Flutter ensures that users will have the same features and interface regardless of whether they use an older-model smartphone or running an older version of iOS or Android.
- Speedier code writing and execution: Flutter is a fast-paced and adaptable platform as compared to other frameworks. One of the unique features of Flutter is the hot reload feature, allowing developers to make modifications to the code and show the impact of the change on the application immediately, making testing much simpler.
Con’s
- Lack of libraries: Therefore, even though the platform is free and has pre-built libraries, they don’t boast the volume of some of their competitors. As a relative newcomer, that’s to be expected and something that will only get better with time, of course. But as it stands, it’s up to the developer to develop libraries from scratch and then upload them to the community to assist others.
- Large file sizes: Flutter files can be large and cumbersome to control due to their sheer size. So much so, it may force the developer to switch to another platform that uses smaller ones.
React Native
React Native also offers multi-platform development within its robust framework, but, like Flutter, its benefits don’t come without their caveats.
Pro’s
- Reusability: React lets you reuse up to 90% of your code between platforms, so you benefit from those time (and cost) savings.
- Third-party plugins and library support: Many third-party libraries (with complicated functions) can be integrated and utilized in your applications, simplifying the whole process.
- Support for community members: As an open-source framework, issues can be resolved by asking fellow developers, with everyone motivated to share their code and products to help the community.
Con’s
- Challenging to Learn: React Native is difficult to learn. An experienced head is usually needed, so it’s not the ideal choice to begin your career in app development.
- Poor Memory Management: Because it’s a JavaScript-based platform, React Native is not efficient with its memory management.
- Speed: Can be sluggish and unresponsive, particularly on slower devices.
- Not as comprehensive an ecosystem as Flutter (yet)
Many different factors determine which is the best framework for your needs.
If you need to collaborate on mobile development with a team of developers who use Java or Objective-C, React Native may be the way to go because it’s cross-platform and written in JavaScript, so there won’t be any syntax barriers.
But if you’re looking for more flexibility when building out various features without having to learn another programming language like Swift or Kotlin, then Flutter might be better suited.
Neither of them is perfect, and while both help you build an excellent app and take a nice chunk off your time-to-market, but it’s not one-size-fits-all: the best one for you very much depends on YOUR specific business goals.
For more info on the programming language itself, check out our short read on Phyton vs PHP: https://www.creativestack.co.uk/phyton-vs-php/
Greg Whitfield.
