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Best Flutter App Development Tools and App Builders
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Flutter was launched in May 2017 by Google as an open-source UI toolkit. The framework is popularly used for building native and cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Google Fuchsia, and the web using a single codebase.
From the time of its alpha launch to the date its popularity is rising too fast due to its unique capabilities such as faster code debugging, visual support design, reusability, and interoperability. It keeps attracting more developers than its rival technologies.
However, it's still not rich enough for building native applications because of the following reasons such as lack of supported third-party libraries, low adoption of Dart among the developers' community, and large Flutter app size.
Well, if you are a Flutter enthusiast who wants to kick-start Flutter app development this article is for you. Here you will learn about the best Flutter app development tools and app builders that speed up your Flutter app development. But before that let's have a quick introduction to Flutter.
What is Flutter, a library or framework?
Flutter is not a framework or a library it is a complete SDK- A software development kit. So it has a much wider scope than just a reusable piece of code and app architecture. In fact, it contains a collection of tools including libraries, documentation, APIs, Framework, and more. It gives you everything for cross-platform app development.
Flutter mainly contains three main layers:
1. Embedder
It uses platform-specific language and thus makes your app run on any platform.
2. Flutter Engine
It is written in C++ and provides the low-level implementation of Flutter core APIs.
3. Flutter Framework
It is based on the Dart programming language. Though its implementation is optimal it comes with a large set of libraries- Foundation classes, rendering layer, widget layer, and Material/ Cupertino libraries.
The widgets in Flutter serve as a building block of applications that covers almost all aspects of app development. These are customizable and you can also build your own widgets.
Flutter Toolkit also offers an automated testing toolset for unit testing, widget, and integration tests. For debugging in Flutter you can use Flutter Dev tools . They are used to inspect layouts, analyze performance, debug applications, and so on.
The current version of Flutter 3.22 has introduced significant updates to Impeller, the rendering Engine that powers your Flutter application.
Why use Flutter for app development?
Flutter is a popular choice for app development for several compelling reasons. It provides the unique advantage of a single codebase that can run on multiple platforms, offering native-like performance, rapid development with hot reload, a rich library of customizable widgets for creating attractive user interfaces, access to platform-specific features, and cost-efficiency.
This open-source framework is backed by a strong community and is suitable for a wide range of applications, from prototypes to production-ready, UI-centric apps, making it a versatile and effective choice for cross-platform development.
Best Flutter app development tools and app builder for improving efficiency.
1. DhiWise - Build web and mobile apps for any use case
Description:
DhiWise is a ProCode/LowCode app development platform for developers that aims to speed the development process by eliminating grunt tasks. It provides app builders for web and mobile application development.
The platform supports modern technologies that include:
- Flutter for Android mobile apps
- Kotlin for Android and iOS apps
- React for web apps
- Next.js for web apps
- HTML for web apps
- Shopify for web apps
- Swift for iOS apps
Popularly used for:
Building production ready apps from scratch or using ready-to-used app templates provided by DhiWise. Also, it can be used to generate and customize code for specific app screens/ screens.
Awards:
Winner of Golden Kitty award 2021 for the best developer tool.
Popularly used for:
Building full-stack production-ready apps from scratch or using ready-to-used app templates provided by DhiWise. Also, it can be used to generate and customize code for specific app screens/ screens.
Scope and Capabilities
a. Design to Code:
Converts Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD Design to code (React.js, Flutter, Kotlin, and Swift).
b. Smart Code Editor
Simplify Frontend code customization using a smart code editor, API integration, code preview, testing, and clean code generation.
c. Git Integrations
The platform is integrated with GitHub and GitLab
d. API Integration
It allows developers to connect their app with APIs simply by uploading Swagger file or Postman collection to the platform.
e. Web app deployment with Vercel
Supports web app deployment with Vercel.
f. Code ownership
Give complete code ownership for the generated code.
2. Appetize- Run native mobile apps directly in the browser
Description:
Appetize expedites the Android and iOS app launch, by enabling developers to run native iOS and Android mobile apps directly in the browser, no downloads, plugins, or extra permission is needed.
Popularly used for:
Developers use Appetize.io for Android app demos, training, customer support, development, testing, automation, and more.
Scope and capabilities
1. Training and customer support
It helps to streamline your access control and app permissions, and it also tracks and audit usage by the agent.
2. Testing and Automation
Help to control network traffic, debug logs, video recordings, and view the remote devices in the operation to view any errors and glitches.
3. App deployment
The appetizer is a highly configurable and customizable tool that works on a single sign-on for secure user auditing and provisioning. Moreover, if a user accesses the browser in JavaScript or HTML format, Appetizer helps to run the native app on mobile easily.
3. Codemagic CI/CD- Test, debug and deploy applications
Description:
It is a cloud-based Continuous Integration/ Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) platform, designed for mobile app developers. It is simply used for building apps with Flutter, and React.Native, native iOS, native Android, Unity, Kotlin, and Ionic.
Popularly used for:
Testing Debugging and software deployment.
Scope and capabilities:
- This is one of the leading Flutter app development tools that enables developers for the smooth processing of the application and its debugging till it becomes an effective market release with minimum complexities.
- Integrated with the Developer's tools such as GitHub, BitBucket, and GitLab.
- Automatically publish your app with every build that works for you, so you can release the app in record time.
- It sets up build notifications for fast feedback on your app builds. Makes debugging easy and provides integration to workspaces like slack.
4. Supernova- Build, mature, and scale your design system
Description:
Supernova is the end-to-end platform that grows with your design system, it helps you build a mature, scalable design system with ease. It is one among the popular Flutter app development tools, that helps you create everything from powerful documentation to efficient design system management.
Popularly used for:
For tightly synchronizing the design and code of all your components, patterns, tokens, and themes in real time.
Scope and Capabilities:
- It allows you to fix the fonts, colors, and other components across the app on different platforms, and parallelly drives co-creation across teams.
- Extends app development visibility by connecting DesignOps and DevOps.
- Converts Sketch and Adobe XD mobile design into native frontend code for iOS and Android.
- Enables design editing and views in real time.
- Allows customization of every component, style, and screen with just a frontend code in the app.
5. Firebase- Backend development tool
Description:
Firebase is one of the top Flutter app development tools that helps you build and grow apps, it is backed by Google. It is a set of hosting services for any type of application and offers NoSQL and real-time hosting of databases, content, social authentication, notifications, and other services.
Popularly used for:
It is used as a backend development tool for web and mobile applications.
Scope and capabilities:
1. Fully managed backend infrastructure
Accelerates backend development by managing the backend infrastructure with Cloud Firestore, and Authentication.
2. Monitor Performance
Let developers release their app with confidence and also monitor performance and stability with Google Analytics and other supported tools.
3. Enhance user engagement
Help to boost user engagement with rich analytics, A/B testing, and messaging campaigns.
6. FlutterFlow- LowCode app builder for Flutter frontend
Description:
FlutterFlow is a low-Code app builder for developing native mobile apps, it provides a simple drag-and-drop interface to build applications 10x faster than traditional app development.
Popularly used for:
It is an online app builder popularly used for native and cross-platform application development.
Scope and Capabilities
1. Visual app builder
The visual app builder lets you build apps with drag and drop, connect with data and implement advanced functionality.
2. Easy data and API integration
Comes with Firebase integration that allows you to connect your app data to live data. Enables you to use API support to connect with third-party APIs or your own RESTFul backend.
3. Multi-language support
Translates the entire app in seconds with Google Translate.
4. Support app customization
The app builder supports UI customization, with a Visual action builder, custom widgets, and custom functions.
7. FluxBuilder- Flutter App Builder for non tech users
Description:
FluxBuilder is a drag-and-drop tool for non-tech users. With it users can build their app in 3 simple steps: Integrate, Design, and Publish.
Popularly used for:
Building Flutter applications by non-tech users.
Scope and capabilities:
1. Flexible app templates
Provide users with ready-to-use custom application templates for building Flutter applications.
2. Powerful integrations
It is integrated with Woocommerce, Magento, Opencart, Shopify, and other top-tier eCommerce development platforms.
3. Cross-platform tool
Flux Builder works well on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even tablet devices so everyone gets their job done from anywhere using any device.
4. Design History Management
Enables easy access to previously edited templates through the design history management feature.
5. Instant app delivery and support
Once the app is published, all configurations are pushed onto the Cloud Storage without submitting the app to Google Play or App Store. Also, the platform provides technical support to users with difficulties.
Summing Up:
It's time-consuming to build an app from scratch and go through the entire application development cycle starting from planning, designing, development, analysis, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
However, the Flutter app development tools discussed above can help you simplify the Flutter app designing, development, and deployment process. Do not hesitate to go with these tools.
So if you are looking for something that lets you build a full-fledged application from scratch and support deployment, DhiWise is the best choice. Its Flutter app builder lets you build a Production-ready Flutter application in a few days.
Overall, if you want a seamless experience while building a full-stack application try DhiWise , and free your time for creative and complex things.
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