Did you know? The global app market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% by 2030. But it’s more than simply statistics when it comes to developing apps. The goal is to comprehend and satisfy consumer needs. This requires developing cross-platform apps. It needs big investments and a user-first strategy.
Flutter is one of the most recent additions to this category of comprehensive software development frameworks. Google created Flutter. It’s a set of libraries, tools, and widgets. They help developers build apps faster and better, with users at the center.
This Flutter app development guide has all you need. It will help you create your app using Flutter in 2024’s mobile app landscape.
Step by Step Create Your First Flutter App
Start with Your App Vision
You can use a variety of tools at this point, but whatever one you use will rely on your level of design expertise. Numerous websites, including Dribbble and Pinterest, provide visual inspiration. However, there are three approaches to design creation:
Use MockFlow for wireframes and Canva for app design if you lack design expertise. You can dive into Figma and take advantage of its features with a little skill. Make your wireframes first, then work on the final design after considering it.
Remember that you can also convert your design into functional Flutter code using plugins like Figma2Flutter and FigmaToFlutter. Therefore, while making your first Flutter app, the first step can easily be the last.
We encourage you to read through and understand the whole process. Sometimes, the code auto-generated by plugins can have bugs, so it helps if you know how to fix them. If you get stuck, consider finding a designer or the best mobile app development company in the USA with design skills. You can always use the Figma2Flutter or FigmaToFlutter plugins to turn your designs into code.
Set up Flutter SDK on your workstation
This process is quite simple. Visit the Flutter download page by clicking the link. Decide on the platform and OS you wish to use. Remember to review the software requirements. You may use the Flutter website guide for this, but you may need to install additional packages or purchase better hardware.
The Flutter course has various alternatives for an integrated development environment (IDE) or text editor. Install the Flutter SDK and your preferred one, like Android Studio. Return here after completing the tutorial, and we’ll proceed.
Install Libraries and Plugins to Make Coding Easier
Flutter libraries and plugins are like toolkits that simplify app development. Libraries provide pre-built elements like buttons, forms, and animations. This makes creating code for user interfaces, data management, and interactions faster and easier.
Plugins are special tools. They link Flutter code to native device functions, such as the camera or GPS. They let you add powerful functionality without writing all the code yourself. Check out Flutter Awesome and pub.dev for practical ideas and quality libraries. They rate libraries by popularity and test them on real projects. Flutter’s open-source community is always ready to help with the latest updates and support.
Time to Code
The Dart programming language creates Flutter and converts it into machine code. This code is understood by host devices, guaranteeing quick and efficient operation. Google created this open-source, object-oriented programming language. The following are some of Dart’s salient features:
- Object-oriented, supporting classes, inheritance, and mixins
- Statically typed for early error detection
- Offers both just-in-time (JIT) and ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation
- Handles memory management automatically with garbage collection
- Includes built-in support for asynchronous programming
- Features a clear and straightforward syntax
Dart is a programming language that enables you to clearly explain any logic in a mobile application. Its characteristics, such as the asynchronous and reactive programming versions, make it appropriate for creating responsive, high-performing iOS and Android apps.
Organize your Project
In a graphical user interface (UI), state management regulates the state of user interface components including text fields, buttons, and checkboxes. It guarantees that the states of other UI controls influence a certain UI control’s state. This method is essential to guaranteeing a seamless user experience in your application.
The complexity of your project, your expertise with various state management options, and the particular requirements of your project are all important considerations for selecting the best state management. Google advises beginning with something straightforward and user-friendly, like Vanilla.
This brings us to the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture, a key state management component. You must also decide between BloC and Provider.
Develop the User Interface & Interactive Components (Widgets)
At this stage, you’ll build the essential parts of your app’s screen UI and add the logic to control it. For example, you might set up code to browse a list of products from a remote server and convert data into display items. Flutter’s approach centers on widgets—reusable UI components that replace the need to build elements from scratch.
Unlike other frameworks that use separate structures, Flutter is unique. Its object model treats everything as a widget, from buttons to text. This approach simplifies building. However, complex apps may need careful planning, as they may need multiple code layers. For more on ready-made widgets, explore this helpful guide.
Do Splash Screenwriting
Every application has a splash screen at the beginning that shows a loading indication or a logo while the program is prepared. The software loads the required data, and the splash screen shows up. The process will be much simpler after we develop our first screen. Some of the code below can be copied and pasted into your existing arsenal of widgets. We’ll leave the rest for you to work on, but you can see more of my code on the screen.
Demonstrating Changes
In Android Studio, you may rapidly view the changes on your screen by pressing a button once you’ve finished a code section. One of Flutter’s primary characteristics is this. Every time you make a change, you don’t have to start again with your project or rebuild the entire application. Hot restart and hot reload are options with Flutter. After pressing a button in only one second, your modifications will be visible on your phone or website.
Test Your App
To ensure your app functions as intended, thorough testing is essential. Sometimes, fixing one feature might break another. We also need to check any platform-specific elements, like Bluetooth or NFC. Testing covers both positive and negative cases. Your live tests ensure features work as expected (e.g., logging in with correct credentials). Negative tests help minimize user errors (e.g., testing incorrect data entries). Simulating potential errors improves your app’s functionality and delivers a “better” user experience.
Publish Your App
Once your app is coded and tested, it’s time to prepare it for release on platforms like iOS, Android, or Web. Start by setting up developer accounts, which may require an annual fee (as with Apple). After uploading, Google and Apple will review your app to ensure it meets their standards. If approved, your app will be live. Remember, a successful launch is just the start & continue refining to keep users engaged and satisfied!
Conclusion
Developing our first Flutter application was an exciting and learning-filled experience. After following the steps above, we gained a deep understanding of Flutter’s capabilities. We set up the development environment, then tested and launched the app. The journey helped me enhance my coding skills, and now we feel confident creating more complex apps. We are excited to continue exploring Flutter for future projects!
