Is Flutter likely to replace Java for Android app development?

The mobile industry is growing at rapid speed, resulting in the increase of mobile users. To be with the speed of innovation, mobile app development companies need to constantly upgrade their mobile apps development services with new app frameworks. There are many mobile app development frameworks available today. One of the most prominent is Flutter that allows us to create cross-platform mobile applications.

Flutter is a Google Mobile UI Framework, released in 2017. It is an open-source UI software development framework mainly used for developing cross-platform for Android and iOS applications. It allows developing an app with a single code base.

Here are the following reasons for why flutter is more popular as compared to JAVA

1. Productivity

Flutter makes you easy to develop an android app with a single code in a short time. You don't need to hire a team for android app developers; one flutter developer can also develop it in the same time with low cost.

2. Cross-platform performance

Flutter gives equal app performance for native apps on Android and iOS, when used Flutter SDK.

3. Dart is much more like Java and not like JS

Dart recognizes Flutter to communicate with an appropriate platform without using a JavaScript bridge which does a context switching. From compiling to native code, it improves app start-up time.

4. High Performing Apps

Flutter is a framework that allow you to get accustomed to the patterns such as reactive and composition development which was not possible with native application development languages like Java.

Pros and cons of Flutter

Pros:

• Flutter enables developers to build Android and iOS apps at the same time.
• Hot re-loading fastens up the coding and prototyping speed
• No issues or problems regarding compatibility (Android devices above 4.1)
• Both Flutter and Dart have built-in support for unit testing
• Flutter gives outstanding support for Text with its Mobile 2D rendering engine & in terms of performance; it is massively optimized.

Cons:

• Size of the files are larger due to built-in widgets and not platform widgets
• Flutter generates the User Interface (UI) on its custom way; it doesn’t create native components.
• Libraries & support – impressive, but still not so rich as for the native development

Difference Between Dart and Java

• One of the biggest troubles for Java developers is SDK libraries. On the other hand, Dart comes along with the future class and an SDK devised around it. Dart can perform anything from scratch.
• You can create substantial web applications in Dart
• Learning curve for Java is better than Dart
• When it comes to performance, Dart executes better than Java; which is also a compiled language
• License of Java is based on GPLv3, whereas Dart is BSD license based.
• There are no more differences when it comes to the syntax of Dart and Java.
• Java was developed by James Gosling and Dart by Google.

Conclusion

Mobile app development has witnessed a plethora of changes over the years. Flutter is now replacing Java with its inherent features and functionalities for Android app development.

If you are a startup, we would suggest you go with Flutter that delivers performance and speed in no time.