Days had gone by when React Native and Flutter were the first names that would strike the mind while thinking about building an app. In current times Kotlin has worked out to give good competition by augmenting the confusion of owners between React Native Vs Flutter Vs Kotlin. Previously most android app development companies used to rely on React Native for app development. In coming times, Flutter has evolved and gotten mature, and Kotlin has become popular. Thus businesses are switching from React Native to either Flutter or Kotlin.
We have had comparisons between Flutter Vs Kotlin and many more. Here we will try to understand flutter app development, Kotlin popularity, and many more things. So let’s deep dive and study Flutter Vs Kotlin for cross-platform mobile app development.
What is Flutter App Development?
As per the official Flutter page, mainly Flutter is Google’s portable UI toolkit for developing creative, innovative and natively compiled web, mobile and desktop apps from a single codebase. Flutter is generally operated by existing code, and thus it can be willingly and openly used by app developers and organizations across the globe.
Google acquired Flutter in the year 2013, and simultaneously it started to invest with technology clients as a motion recognition by software at Y combinators group of companies in 2012. Flutter is a free-to-use open-source platform for developing applications with a native feel for iOS and Android platforms all in one codebase.
History of Flutter App Development
The first and the foremost version of Flutter was declared at the Dart developers summit in 2015. Further, it was codenamed “sky”, which was asked to operate at 120 frames per second of Android OS. For the World Mobile World Congress, the first and foremost beta version of Flutter was released in February 2018.
Eventually, the second flutter beta and first stable version were released at Google on 10 April. Simultaneously there were many upgrades in flutter app development. The latest version on the stable channel is version 1.22.5 which was brought into the market in November 2020.
More About Flutter Programming Language
Dart, C, C++, and Skia graphics engine are some of the most famous programming languages Flutter uses for app development. It has been one of the major players in the production of mobile apps despite having a fresh ecosystem and being there as new technology. Read more on Flutter app development cost.
Current Use of Flutter
Flutter is not as established and known as Kotlin. One of the big organizations like Alibaba was one of the leading B2B online marketplaces. Further, Tencent was considered the largest Chinese online community, and they have already started to make themselves familiar with the technology. The operation of Google Ads has also used Flutter app development as Flutter app architecture is also being used to develop an anticipated future OS, Fuchsia.
What is Kotlin Mobile App Development?
Kotlin is one of the well-known programming languages that are free, static, and open-source and was initially created for effortless use of Android and JVM of both Functional programming language and OOP. Some of the main features and advantages of Kotlin are:
- Safety
- Support & maintenance and Tools
- Interoperability.
Ever since the inception of Android, the official programming languages were the most common and popular C++ and Java in some situations. In 2017, Google declared their support for Kotlin as one of their Android programming languages and incorporated Kotlin support and maintenance directly into the Android Studio. It allowed app developers to modify the pre-written Java codes into Kotlin and operate Kotlin and Java codes side by side in their projects. Read more on features and benefits of Kotlin.
Flutter vs Kotlin
1. Flutter Vs Kotlin Popularity
Both Kotlin and Flutter are open-source platforms that provide users with free access to every user. It is one of the major reasons developers get a lot of in-built curiosity about function on these platforms. In current times, Flutter has gained a lot more popularity than Kotlin seen from the GitHub presence.
Kotlin: 31.1k stars and 3.8k forks
Flutter: 88.7K stars and 11.7k forks
It certainly shows that Flutter gets a huge pace in the market in comparison to Kotlin.
2. Kotlin Vs Flutter Performance
One of the major advantages of using Flutter for cross-platform apps is its hot reload functionality. This feature and functionality of Flutters make it easy for the users to make distinct changes in the backend and showcase the difference in the front end simultaneously. This helps ensure that you can always make modifications accordingly if the elements and design are not on point.
On the other hand, Kotlin’s multi-platform feature allows app developers to get the code explicitly in the same format, just like some targeted platforms. Thus it is one of the reliable platforms for better performance than their native counterparts.
3. Flutter Vs Kotlin UI Experience
While you decide to invest in flutter app development, users get the opportunity to support the numerous widgets available. Further, it helps develop mobility solution icons in an effective, efficient, quick, and customized manner.
On the other hand, with Kotlin app development, most mobile application development services have to follow any instructions for developing the UI identical to native apps.
4. Flutter Vs Kotlin Programming Language
With Flutter programming languages, the cross-platform app development framework takes the support of Dart programming language. Google initially introduced this language in 2011. At the same time, the syntax of the Dart is quite reliable and relatable. One of the major reasons for this is that it manages to support the object-oriented elements as the app developers get to access Dart as they require huge documentation on the official websites of Dart.
On the other hand, Kotlin has a general-purpose and statistically typed programming language that helps users interact with Java. It becomes quite similar to Java and further aims at Native, Java Virtual machine, JavaScript, and many more.
5. Flutter Vs Kotlin Pricing
Flutter and Dart both are free to use open-source platforms. It helps app developers to empower to get insights about:
- Post queries in the development forum
- Documentation
- Get knowledge and implement code
Kotlin is also one of the free-to-use open-source codes that are made available on GitHub. All users are required to do is download and install the app once it is developed. Are you looking forward to decreasing the overall development cost by up to 60%? Get in contact with top mobile application development services and develop your remote development team, whether for Flutter or Kotlin developers.
6. Flutter Vs Kotlin Testing Support
Flutter app development provides users with a rich set of testing features that do unit testing for widgets while incorporating the level. Apart from having great documentation on testing, it also has innovative widget-testing features. Thus, with this feature’s help, users can construct widget tests to examine the UI and further operate them at unit test speed.
While with Kotlin, if you are considering backend development services, Kotlin is one such platform with added benefits other than the ones in the market. Although Flutter functions with Firebase, it is an effective and efficient backend as a service platform securing backend opportunities. It enables app developers to develop the backend code.
7. Flutter Vs Kotlin Integration
Flutter app development provides users with the amazing functionality of developing an app compatible with Android and iOS platforms with fewer codes. Thus it eventually makes Flutter the ideal option for MVP development while developing a prototype. You are required to be careful and check the waters beforehand to avoid barriers.
While the multi-platform framework of Kotlin is among the native ecosystem, your hired team of developers can function from the same tools and libraries that they use during ongoing native development. It comprises Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI. Thus it showcases that they require some third-party libraries and tools to bridge the gap between combinations with the native environment. Read more on Flutter Vs. React Native Vs. Ionic Vs. NativeScript.
8. Flutter Vs Kotlin Community
Flutter is a cross-platform that continues to flourish in the marketplace. Thus boosting the flutter community with each passing day.
On the other hand, Google is developing to get Kotlin oriented, and it could be one of the major reasons mobile app developers are getting much more inclined toward it. Apart from this, there is a long list of Java apps that have been rewritten in Kotlin with a set of smart features and functionalities. In brief words, Kotlin is examined as the future of app building and development.
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Conclusion
You might need an answer to Flutter Vs Kotlin: which platform wins the battle? Looking out for the development of both native and cross-platform mobile apps, both of these platforms are known as two of the most reliable and trusted that aim at reducing the time and expense of app development alongside enhanced app performance. Above that, both these platforms have the support of Google, which is an assurance that both of these platforms will be dominating the market in the coming future.
But if you have questions like should I learn Kotlin or Flutter? or what Kotlin is used for, or which one of them wins the competition? Flutter has executed better than Kotlin. At last, everything depends on your project requirements and specifications; thus, it is always recommended to discuss your ideas with top mobile application development services and the platform you want to develop your app.
