Just like React Native, it promises the same high-speed development as React Native because of the reusability of the core codebase. But it makes things easier by doing away with the JavaScript bridge for connecting the native UI layer. On the other hand, in Flutter the UI elements for all platforms come as customisable widgets ensuring modular and faster development. On top of that, the out-of-the-box testing and backend support pushed the speed of Flutter development even further.
Read: Speed-Up Your Mobile App Development with Flutter in 2022
With so many advantages offered by a single framework, Flutter became the natural choice for startups to develop and release apps faster. But if you want to hire flutter developer for your next app project, you need to know the potential of the framework further and know certain tricks to utilise Flutter for your project even better. The question is, how to increase the development speed of a Flutter app? What are the time-tested measures to boost the speed of Flutter app development? Let’s explain them one by one.
For faster development using Flutter, you should use a dedicated CI/CD tool. Continuous integration (CI) allows incorporating the developer-build parts on a continuous basis in the repository of shared code. Every time a code is integrated it needs to pass through verification by the automated build. This ensures that the development process remains strictly on track.
Continuous delivery is another concept referring to the delivery of integrated code on a continuous basis. This delivery of the integrated code can refer to new feature development, bug fixes or other code changes. Thanks to Continuous Delivery (CD) the entire release process can be streamlined for smooth publishing as well as testing.
Flutter app developers can use a robust and widely acclaimed CI/CD tool called Codemagic. According to Mathew Helen of Imperoit, “Codemagic has already become the de-facto preference for streamlining coding process in Flutter app projects.” Thanks to this tool developers can just set up their project one time and thereafter streamline the development process through continuous integration and delivery for both iOS, Android, web and desktop. Codemagic also helps in running automated tests and you can easily make everyone informed about the results in real time.
Another time-tested way to speed up the process of Flutter development is to use a command called Flutter Doctor. The command is particularly used to make sure that the environment is working well. After opening the terminal by using Alt+F12 in Android Studio, you can use the Flutter Doctor command. To make sure that it works well, you need to rely on at least a single IDE running on a connected emulator or device.
Particularly, for Android Emulator, one needs to create a virtual mobile device. This can be taken care of either by an app developer or an AVD manager. This can be better done by accessing a toolbar. The toolbar is easily accessed by just pressing Ctrl Alt+F12 followed by the name of the action type in the respective field.
The developers should rely on the default setting that is displayed on the device screen. Just from the default setting on the screen tap on the “Shift+F10'’ command and thereafter tap on the run button. When carrying out the same testing process on iOS Emulator, you can get it done by tapping on the dropdown menu. In the case of using the iOS emulator, the pop-up from the Xcode installer will request you to install all the components that are still missing from your app project.
But there can be increased complications when you carry out the same testing on a real iOS device. This is when developers from Xcode need to open the iOS module. After opening the Xcode, the developers need to go to the settings and find the signing and capabilities. Once signing-in is complete and a provisional profile is created, you are ready to carry out the tasks.
The Flutter Doctor command in the case of cross-platform app projects can speed up the development process to a great extent.
We all know that in Flutter, every UI element is represented by widgets for their respective platforms. Flutter through its rich repository of widgets allows the creation of every user interface element for iOS and Android. Now, most of these widgets can only be customised when you have a stateful widget at your disposal.
While the Stateless widgets are changeable, the stateful ones are unchangeable. On the other hand, the scaffold widget offers a framework to provide standard screen components. Maintaining the proper hierarchy of these components can be complicated and time-consuming.
This is where the Flutter widgets help you to save a considerable amount of time and effort in an app project. But to make use of the widgets for faster development, you need to first create a Stateful widget that can accommodate other Stateless widgets to incorporate changes as required by the app project.
Flutter is itself a fast-paced development framework for app projects. Now you can further push the development speed by embracing the above-mentioned measures. These measures and methodologies have already been tested and tried across innumerable app projects all over the world. Hence by using them you are actually following the footsteps of the successful Flutter developers.
1. Use Codemagic, a Robust CI/CD tool
For faster development using Flutter, you should use a dedicated CI/CD tool. Continuous integration (CI) allows incorporating the developer-build parts on a continuous basis in the repository of shared code. Every time a code is integrated it needs to pass through verification by the automated build. This ensures that the development process remains strictly on track.
Continuous delivery is another concept referring to the delivery of integrated code on a continuous basis. This delivery of the integrated code can refer to new feature development, bug fixes or other code changes. Thanks to Continuous Delivery (CD) the entire release process can be streamlined for smooth publishing as well as testing.
Flutter app developers can use a robust and widely acclaimed CI/CD tool called Codemagic. According to Mathew Helen of Imperoit, “Codemagic has already become the de-facto preference for streamlining coding process in Flutter app projects.” Thanks to this tool developers can just set up their project one time and thereafter streamline the development process through continuous integration and delivery for both iOS, Android, web and desktop. Codemagic also helps in running automated tests and you can easily make everyone informed about the results in real time.
2. Make use of the Flutter Doctor Command
Another time-tested way to speed up the process of Flutter development is to use a command called Flutter Doctor. The command is particularly used to make sure that the environment is working well. After opening the terminal by using Alt+F12 in Android Studio, you can use the Flutter Doctor command. To make sure that it works well, you need to rely on at least a single IDE running on a connected emulator or device.
Particularly, for Android Emulator, one needs to create a virtual mobile device. This can be taken care of either by an app developer or an AVD manager. This can be better done by accessing a toolbar. The toolbar is easily accessed by just pressing Ctrl Alt+F12 followed by the name of the action type in the respective field.
The developers should rely on the default setting that is displayed on the device screen. Just from the default setting on the screen tap on the “Shift+F10'’ command and thereafter tap on the run button. When carrying out the same testing process on iOS Emulator, you can get it done by tapping on the dropdown menu. In the case of using the iOS emulator, the pop-up from the Xcode installer will request you to install all the components that are still missing from your app project.
But there can be increased complications when you carry out the same testing on a real iOS device. This is when developers from Xcode need to open the iOS module. After opening the Xcode, the developers need to go to the settings and find the signing and capabilities. Once signing-in is complete and a provisional profile is created, you are ready to carry out the tasks.
The Flutter Doctor command in the case of cross-platform app projects can speed up the development process to a great extent.
3. Utilising Widgets by Using a Stateful Widget
We all know that in Flutter, every UI element is represented by widgets for their respective platforms. Flutter through its rich repository of widgets allows the creation of every user interface element for iOS and Android. Now, most of these widgets can only be customised when you have a stateful widget at your disposal.
While the Stateless widgets are changeable, the stateful ones are unchangeable. On the other hand, the scaffold widget offers a framework to provide standard screen components. Maintaining the proper hierarchy of these components can be complicated and time-consuming.
This is where the Flutter widgets help you to save a considerable amount of time and effort in an app project. But to make use of the widgets for faster development, you need to first create a Stateful widget that can accommodate other Stateless widgets to incorporate changes as required by the app project.
Wrapping Up
Flutter is itself a fast-paced development framework for app projects. Now you can further push the development speed by embracing the above-mentioned measures. These measures and methodologies have already been tested and tried across innumerable app projects all over the world. Hence by using them you are actually following the footsteps of the successful Flutter developers.
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