We all know about Flutter. The good old, favorite mobile app development framework. Flutter was created by Google and has been around for a while. It's a powerful tool that allows you to build native mobile apps for iOS and Android. Then soon after No Code tools started to gain traction, FlutterFlow was created. It's a no code tool that allows you to build mobile apps for iOS and Android using Flutter. Let's explore what it is and some pros and cons for using it.

What is FlutterFlow?

FlutterFlow is a no code tool that allows you to build mobile apps for iOS and Android using Flutter. It makes development faster and easier for people who are not familiar with a technical background. It allows users to build effective apps through a drag and drop interface and a library of pre-built components. This is what makes it so powerful.

Let's take a look at some of the capabilities of this no code tool.

The Good Stuff 🎯

1. Rapid Prototyping

FlutterFlow shines when you need to quickly prototype and test ideas. You can build a functional app in hours instead of days, which is perfect for when you're working with an MVP or a proof of concept. This is also great for when you're working with a client and you need to show them a working app.

FlutterFlow also has a vast library of pre-built components and apps that you can use to build your prototype. You can check it out here

2. Native Performance

It excels in creating native apps which use a single codebase for both iOS and Android. This means that you can build an app that is optimized for both platforms. This is a huge advantage over other no code tools that wrap your app in a WebView or something similar.

It uses the Dart language which is used in Flutter to generate native code. Here is an example of the generated code:

class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
    const MyHomePage({Key? key}) : super(key: key);
    @override
    MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}

3. Customization

Need to add custom functionality? FlutterFlow lets you write custom Dart code. We can also use the marketplace to add custom components to our app. Here is an example of a custom action:

// Custom Action Example
Future customAction() async {
  // Your custom logic here
  final result = await someComplexOperation();
  return result;
}

4. Collaboration

The framework allows you to collaborate with your team. You can invite your team to your project and they can work on the app together. Teams can add comments, view cursors and collaborate effectively directly in the app. This enables faster development and more efficient collaboration. Some of the collaboration features include:

  • Access control: You can control who has access to your project.
  • Role-based permissions: You can assign different roles to your team members and control what they can and cannot do.
  • Real-time collaboration: You can collaborate with your team in real-time.
  • Presence: You can see who is online and who is offline and who has commented on a component.

5. Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

Adding a notifications feature to your app can be a very daunting task. That's why this point deserves a special mention. FlutterFlow has a built-in FCM integration that allows you to send push notifications to your app. No more having to build your own backend to send notifications.

The Not-So-Good Stuff 🚧

1. Limited Design Flexibility

While you can build basic UIs quickly, complex custom designs can be frustrating. You might find yourself fighting the system for complex animations or custom UI components. While it is a great choice for simple apps, it can be a bit of a struggle for more complex apps.

2. Exporting and Importing Code

FlutterFlow allows you to export your app code so you can work on it outside of the platform. This is great for when you want to make changes to your app. However, it can be a bit of a struggle to import your app code back into FlutterFlow.

Let's say you made some changes after exporting the code and now you want to get back into it with the changes in FlutterFlow. This is really tricky and can be a bit of a struggle.

3. Learning Curve

FlutterFlow has a bit of a steep learning curve. It can be a struggle to understand how to use the platform and how to build your app. This is especially true if you are not familiar with Flutter or Dart. This is why it is important to have a good understanding of Flutter before you start using FlutterFlow. But again, this is not always the case. If you are not familiar with Flutter, you can always use the marketplace to find pre-built components and apps that you can use to build your app assuming you'll learn along the way.

What all can you build with FlutterFlow?

As mentioned earlier, it has a vast library of pre-built components and apps that you can use to build your app. You can check it out here.

You can make "quick drafts" of your app and then export the code to Flutter. This is a great way to get started with FlutterFlow.

To deploy Android apps, you can go through the documentation on how to deploy an Android app and similarly for iOS with how to deploy an iOS app.

Let's take a look at some success stories with FlutterFlow:

CakeSchool

CakeSchool is a remarkable success story that showcases the framework's capabilities in creating impactful applications. Developed for head pastry chef Alina Makarova, who has trained over 100,000 clients, the app revolutionized traditional pastry education by offering a comprehensive digital learning platform. Built by Appfyl Studio using FlutterFlow, the app quickly grew to over 50,000 users and became the leading online school for confectioners in the Russian and CIS market. The app features dynamic course content, recipe calculators, and community forums, demonstrating how FlutterFlow can be used to create sophisticated, production-ready applications.

NatParks

NatParks is another impressive success story that demonstrates the platform's versatility. Developed by Mick Gow, a UX designer from Amazon and Microsoft, the app has transformed how people explore national parks. Built as a side project, NatParks quickly gained traction with 4,000 users and 100 new installs daily. The app centralizes the national park experience by offering features like park research, trip logging, photo sharing, and an AI-powered chat for personalized recommendations. What's remarkable is that the entire app was prototyped in just four weeks using FlutterFlow, and it successfully integrates multiple APIs including National Parks Service, Recreation.gov, and OpenAI. This showcases how FlutterFlow enables even designers to build sophisticated, production-ready applications without extensive coding knowledge.

Conclusion

FlutterFlow is like a power tool - great for the right job but not for everything. It can significantly speed up development for certain types of apps, but you need to understand its limitations.

The best tool is the one that solves your specific problem efficiently. Sometimes that's FlutterFlow, sometimes it's not.

Happy coding!

Author Of article : Harshal Ranjhani Read full article