Key Disadvantages of Flutter 

Key Disadvantages of Flutter

Flutter, Google’s renowned open-source framework for developing responsive and visually appealing applications, has gained immense popularity since its release in 2017. While it offers several advantages, it’s essential to explore the downsides of Flutter to make informed decisions before implementing it within your development teams. In this article, we will delve into what sets Flutter apart from other frameworks and uncover its disadvantages.

Understanding Flutter

Flutter serves as Google’s flagship tool for creating cross-platform applications. Originally designed for mobile app development, it received a significant overhaul in March 2021 with the release of Flutter 2. This updated framework expanded its capabilities to support web, desktop, and emerging smart devices, addressing some of its initial weaknesses.

Moreover, Flutter’s ecosystem has expanded to include packages and tools compatible with leading tech solutions, allowing developers to build applications for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, the web, and major mobile platforms simultaneously.

Flutter’s Unique Application Space

To comprehend Flutter’s distinctiveness, it’s crucial to consider its comprehensive set of tools and support, setting it apart from traditional frameworks and libraries. In essence, Flutter isn’t merely a framework or library but an all-encompassing Software Development Kit (SDK) that provides developers with the necessary tools, libraries, frameworks, and support to create high-quality software.

While this approach offers advantages, it can also introduce limitations in terms of flexibility, as the technology prescribes specific toolsets, a unique language, and workflows. Developers may find fewer options for customizing the tooling to align with their specific needs.

Flutter’s Architecture

Understanding Flutter’s architecture is pivotal in assessing its strengths and limitations. The framework’s architecture consists of three layers:

1. Platform-Specific Embedder: This foundational layer interacts with the underlying operating system of the target platform, enabling access to device services like input, accessibility, and system threads. Its primary role is to facilitate integration between Flutter apps and the target platform.
2. Flutter Engine: The core of Flutter’s technology lies in its engine. This engine supports various unique functionalities, including rendering components within apps and the compilation toolchain for building them. It acts as an intermediary, translating C++ code into Dart classes that developers can utilize.
3. Framework Layer: The uppermost layer is where developers interact with Flutter. It encompasses a rich set of libraries and tools that facilitate feature-rich application development.

Drawbacks of Flutter

While Flutter offers numerous advantages, it’s crucial to assess its drawbacks before adopting it for application development projects.

1. Large and Weighty Apps

Applications developed using Flutter, along with its associated tools, tend to have larger file sizes compared to native apps. This size discrepancy arises because Flutter apps must include the framework’s engine and widgets. This can be a significant issue for users with limited device storage, making it challenging to convince them to download large apps. Consequently, Flutter may not be suitable for instant apps with stringent storage requirements.

2. Limited Ecosystem

Despite improvements introduced in Flutter 2, the relatively niche nature of Flutter’s programming language limits its ecosystem. Unlike other frameworks that can seamlessly integrate existing JavaScript libraries, Flutter struggles to provide the same level of compatibility. While progress is being made, this limitation may persist for a few more years.

3. Limited Community Support

The youthfulness of Flutter, combined with its language choice (Dart), contributes to a relatively small community of developers. This limited community support can hinder the availability of third-party libraries and tools, which is essential for a flourishing developer ecosystem. However, over time, as developers gain experience with Dart and the technology matures, this issue may become less significant.

4. Prescriptive Tooling

Flutter’s comprehensive toolset and prescribed workflows may not align with the practices of developers accustomed to assembling projects from various frameworks and libraries. If Flutter’s workflow doesn’t seamlessly integrate with your existing practices, adopting the technology may present a significant challenge.

5. Dart Language

Dart, the programming language used in Flutter, presents both advantages and disadvantages. While Dart is powerful, productive, and accessible, its limited adoption and expansion over the last few years can be a hindrance. Being locked into a niche language for application development should be carefully considered before embracing Flutter.

The Place of Flutter

Flutter is undeniably a powerful and productive tool that continues to evolve. With significant improvements introduced in its latest version, it plays an increasingly prominent role in modern application development. However, it’s vital to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages when considering Flutter for your development projects.

Conclusion

To make an informed decision, conduct thorough due diligence within your organization, carefully assessing how the drawbacks of Flutter may impact your development teams and devising strategies to mitigate or work around these challenges.