Flutter, the open-source mobile app toolkit, was introduced by Google in 2017. It facilitates the development of appealing native interfaces on cross-platform apps for both iOS and Android. Flutter Release Preview 2, the sixth and final version of the SDK, which was launched at Google Developer Days China has brought more attention for the framework recently. This will be followed by the launch of the stable version of Flutter 1.0 probably by the end of the year.
Since the release of Preview 1, this cross-platform app development framework has come a long way, as it is listed among the top 50 open-source software repos on GitHub as well as is the choice of top brands such as Google, Alibaba, and Tencent. While you may still have to wait for some time till the Flutter version 1.0 will roll out, the Preview 2 has a lot of features that you would want to know about. Let’s list them out for you.
More iOS-themed widgets
Google has enhanced the library of widgets for the SDK with the objective of delivering brand-driven tailored experiences to the app users. The theme for this release is pixel-perfect iOS apps, which says enough about its utility for creating apps that fit the iOS-style interface. With this new feature, Flutter, which was already empowered with Material Design widgets for Android app development, will now be able to do the same for iOS design as well.
Execution of Dart code in the background
Google Flutter Release Preview 2 supports the execution of Dart code in the background. With this, the Flutter apps will be activated and run based on location updates, timers, and similar triggers by the operating systems. This new feature will be a motivating factor for app developers to embrace Flutter framework for creating apps.
Lesser memory size
Prior to the release, the key issue with Flutter was related to high memory consumption, with the prior versions being heavy in install size. This issue has been resolved with the new release as the Flutter app size has been curtailed by as much as 30%. The minimal app size on the Android will now be 4.7 MB while that for iOS will vary depending on the package build. The smaller size will translate into enhanced app performance which is definitely good news for developers and businesses alike.
Extensive community support
Flutter SDK has extensive community support with developers already having expressed high satisfaction levels while working with it. Things are going to get even better on this front after the release of 1.0 version. Since Google understand the kind of competition that it faces from players such as Facebook’s React Native, things will get only better in the future.
What Next: Upgrading to Flutter Release Preview 2
Now that the release is out, the next feasible step is to move your Flutter app to the new version. This is essential to get ready for the launch of the stable Flutter 1.0 version which is expected in near future. If you are using a Flutter beta version, you can upgrade by typing $ flutter upgrade. This simple step will open up all the features of Preview 2 for your app.
The best approach will be to get this done by a professional mobile app development company that has expertise in Flutter SDK. Mobibiz is a name that you can trust for hiring skilled developers to create advanced cross-platform apps using this framework. If you want to upgrade an existing one to the latest version, we are there to help. Connect with us to share your requirements and we will definitely assist you with the right solution.
