Flutter is Google’s free and open-source mobile UI framework that allows for the creation of native mobile applications with only one codebase and programming language. Released in May of 2017, Flutter makes it incredibly easier and quicker to build both iOS and Android apps simpler and faster. The Flutter framework consists of two important parts: A software development kit (SDK), and a UI library based on widgets.
Developers offering flutter app development services using the Flutter framework will employ a portable programming language called Dart which supports multiplatform development. The journey that started with Flutter 1.0 beta four years ago has reached Flutter 3.0, which according to the company marks a complete transformation from a mobile-centric to a multiplatform framework. The newest version with latest app development technologies comes equipped with state-of-the-art productivity and performance features. You can hire a Flutter developer who can leverage the power of Flutter 3 to build apps for your business.
Flutter 3.0 Announcement
As a part of the Google, I/O keynote on May 11, 2022, Flutter 3 has officially been released at Google I/O 2022. Though building apps for the Windows platform was supported since February, but macOS and Linux were available only in beta version. Flutter 3 to Build Apps has changed that and the latest version offers stable support for building apps for macOS and Linux platforms as well.
Flutter 3.0 comes equipped with a rich library of packages, new widgets, enhanced framework capabilities, and a host of other tools for enhanced performance along with deeper integration capabilities across underlying platforms. Flutter 3.0 allows developers to seamlessly integrate six platforms (Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS, and web) from a single codebase, which results in unmatched productivity and experiences, and helps businesses bring innovative ideas to the market in real quick time.
Previous releases of Flutter offered iOS and Android development with web and Windows support, and now the latest version of Flutter offers steady backing for macOS and Linux apps as well.
Latest version of flutter has delivery support for macOS for Universal Binaries by default for Windows, macOS, Linux platforms, and more importantly for Apple Silicon chips, and Intel Pentium, which means that applications can work natively on Apple and Intel silicon chips. Additionally, Google has cooperated with Ubuntu’s Canonical for a Linux release for highly integrated Flutter app development.
The stable support for Linux and macOS is one of the major distinguishing features of the latest version of Flutter as it delivers seamless mobile app development features. Also, equally important feature offered by latest version of Flutter is that it now supports Material Design 3 (Google’s in-house design concept that offers dynamic color, sophisticated color scheme, and unique visual effects.
Flutter Firebase Support
Firebase is Google’s back-end platform for developing mobile and web apps. Flutter Firebase integration is top-notch as it goes well above and beyond a mere UI framework to offer developers a comprehensive suite of tools for mobile app development. It offers a host of services including, device testing, data storage, cloud storage and authentication among others. There are a variety of services that support Flutter, including Sentry, AppWrite, and AWS Amplify. The team at Flutter has announced that Flutter Firebase integration is fully supported through the addition of better documentation, new widgets, and plugins.
Flutter 3.0 updates for mobile
Android and iOS apps have been the mainstay of Flutter, and with Flutter 3.0, they have been bestowed few significant upgrades.
The all-new Flutter 3.0 offers foldable support for phones. TwoPane widgets and highlights permit you to build and design a scalable layout to support foldable devices.
Variable refresh rate for iOS
The new Flutter version supports variable refresh rates and ProMotion displays on iOS devices, including iPhone 13 Pro and iPad Pro devices. The current refresh rate is 120 Hz, double than 60 Hz which was the limit in the past.
Game Toolkit in Flutter 3.0
Flutter 3.0 comes equipped with Casual Games Toolkit. This feature will allow developers to create and launch casual games from scratch. It also includes provisions for cloud services and advertisements to help businesses generate revenue. Since it is open-source, and supports hardware-accelerated graphics, it becomes incredibly easy for developers to create exciting games quickly. Additionally, the games toolkit allows for easy integration which enables effortless games creation on Flutter platform.
Flutter 3.0 updates for web
Image decoding
The Flutter Web interface in Flutter 3.0 contains new APIs capable of automatically perceiving and deploying pictures off the fundamental string, right through the browser.
The built-in picture codecs of the program double the speed of decoding images asynchronously, which significantly enhances the speed of loading images.
Web app lifecycles
This new Lifecycle API for web applications allow developers more flexibility and control over the cycle for bootstrapping your application, when hosted via an HTML page, which enables running Flutter in headless mode on the web.
Flutter 3.0 update for desktop
MacOS & Linux support
Flutter 3.0 allow developers to finally create apps for macOS and Linux operating systems as well. Flutter when it was launched supported Android and iOS platforms, which gradually expanded to Windows, Web, and embedded devices, and now with MacOS and Linux support, Flutter now supports all the six platforms.
Dart 2.17
The new Dart language 2.17, now accessible to all Flutter developers comes equipped with several new features that reduce boilerplate and aid readability, and deploy test custom-written classes.
Closer view on the comparison of Flutter 1.0, 2.0, 3.0
| Criteria | Flutter 1.0 | Flutter 2.0 | Flutter 3.0 |
| Web Support | Only in the beta version | On both web and mobile | On both the web and mobile including foldable devices. |
| Flutter for iOS | Difficult search libraries for iOS. Developers were required to perform a complicated task to locate a search bar on iOS | In Flutter 2.0, Google incorporated the search bar UI from iOS into its TextField. | The latest version offers ultra-fast refresh rate for a seamless experience. |
| Devices supported | No desktop support | Support for IOS and Android with web and Windows support. | Additional support for Linux apps and macOS |
| Code control | Code writing difficult owing to different platforms | Made possible to use the same code for both the platforms | Allows to create native interfaces for six different platforms with a single codebase |
Exclusive updates rather than old flutter 2.0, 1.0
Flutter 3.0 comes with an extensive set of features including, stable desktop support, macOS and Linux support, support for refresh rate, Dart 2.17, image decoding, casual game toolkit, support for macOS System Menu Bar and Cascading Menu, foldable phone support, firebase support, and Material Design 3 among others.
Conclusion
The most important aspect of Flutter 3.0 is that it supports 6 major platforms, with the addition of MacOS and Linux, allowing developers to build apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS, and web with a single codebase.
To leverage the power and features of Flutter 3.0 for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS, it is important to hire a top flutter app development services company. Reputable companies employ latest app development technologies to build web app with Flutter, flutter iOS app development, build native mobile apps with flutter and offer top-notch mobile app development services.