The technological world is constantly evolving. As more businesses shift to mobile-based applications, developers are concerned about selecting suitable app development platforms. This is unsurprising given the vast differences in the technologies used to create Android and iOS apps.
When it comes to iOS app development, choosing the right framework is critical to the success of your project. Flutter and React Native are both capable of running on iOS devices. However, there are some factors and parameters to consider when creating an iOS app and distinguishing the specific language.
Fear not, we’ve created a guide – Flutter vs. React Native – to delve deep into the differences between these two popular frameworks. So, get ready to investigate the conflict between these two frameworks and their comparison. We’ll also determine when to use which framework for your app’s performance, user experience, and overall success.
Also, read about the top Flutter App Development Companies And Developers.
React Native vs. Flutter: Comparison
Programming language
To begin, React Native is based on JavaScript and employs ReactJS, a library for creating user interfaces. The good news is that working with React Native is a no-brainer.
What’s more, JavaScript has a large following. According to the Stack Overflow 2022 developers’ survey, it has been the most popular programming language for ten years in a row! Putting together a React Native development team should be a piece of cake.
Let’s move on to Flutter. Dart, a programming language created by Google, is used by this champion. Dart, as a client-optimized language, brings a lot to the table, including extremely productive app development.
The icing on the cake? Dart is similar to well-known object-oriented programming (OOP) languages such as Java and C++. If you’ve dabbled in either, you’ll pick up on it quickly. Furthermore, Stack Overflow reveals that developers prefer Dart to JavaScript.
Development tools & documentation
Although React Native has good documentation, it is primarily aimed at professional web app developers who are already familiar with JavaScript. There are also a few loopholes such as the less-than-stellar navigation documentation and the challenge in finding information about building native libraries.
Contrarily, Flutter saves the day with its comprehensive documentation that is rich in useful graphics and video tutorials. But hold on, there’s more! Flutter also includes several useful tools to aid you in app development, such as the debugger and Flutter inspector.
Architecture
Speaking about React Native and its new architecture, it employs a clever little thing called the JavaScript bridge, which allows communication between JavaScript and the native language via JSON messages. Because the messaging is asynchronous, the UI of your app should be as smooth as silk. However, there is one minor caveat: the bridge may affect rendering speed, potentially resulting in a lagging UI. This is something to think about when deciding between React Native new architecture and Flutter.
But wait, Flutter is now marching to a different drummer. It contains all necessary components, including frameworks such as Cupertino and Material Design, so no bridge is required to interact with native components. When compared to React, this fantastic feature is one of the Flutter advantages that makes apps more stable and predictable across multiple platforms.
Want to know more about React Native Components, take a deep dive into the React Native Component lifecycle.
Community support
When diving into the world of open-source development frameworks, a robust community of contributors can make a world of difference. Guess what? React Native enjoys a remarkable community presence! Introduced in 2015, it quickly attracted the backing of countless developers. To get involved, you can find a treasure trove of React Native community channels.
Now, let’s talk about Flutter. Although its community of developers may be smaller than React Native’s, don’t underestimate its potential. Introduced in 2017, flutter’s journey from being zero to hero is making waves and gaining immense popularity. What’s more, its support is growing steadily, drawing in more developers every day. If you’re curious, check out these valuable Flutter community resources.
User interface (UI)
To render native components for each platform, React Native makes use of the JavaScript bridge. As a result, this feature allows you to create Android and iOS apps that have a native look and feel. The best part about React Native is that it provides a plethora of ready-to-use components that developers can use as building blocks.
However, replicating complex UI in a React Native app can be challenging. Additionally, React Native components may behave differently on different platforms.
Talking about Flutter, this powerhouse includes built-in UI widgets, making it simple and easy to create native-like applications. There’s no need to look for external libraries because Flutter’s all-inclusive library of framework widgets has you covered. Above all, Flutter apps maintain consistency across platforms.
Installation & initial configuration
Initially, React Native keeps configuration to a minimum. All you have to do is run the command line to install the React-Native CLI globally. But keep in mind that you’ll also need NodeJS and Yarn installed as package managers.
Now, on to Flutter. You’ll begin by downloading the binary for your specific mobile platform. Then, using the command line, add it to your PATH variable. And herein lies the disadvantage: Flutter’s installation isn’t as simple as React Native’s, so it loses a few points in this round.
Developer productivity
Due to its high code reusability across platforms, React Native is a time-saving option. Furthermore, the developer community has created a plethora of libraries that can be used as building blocks to speed up development even further. To sugarcoat it, React Native includes a hot reload feature, which allows you to review changes to your app without having to recompile it.
But don’t worry, Flutter isn’t far behind. It also includes a hot reload feature for quick code iterations and immediate feedback. Furthermore, the Flutter app development services are known for their quick app compilation, which can increase developer productivity. Not to mention Flutter’s widget library, which is extremely useful for creating a visually appealing user interface.
CI/CD support
When it comes to CI/CD pipeline support, the differences between React Native and Flutter can be quite noticeable. Unfortunately, React Native does not include a CI/CD solution for delivering apps to the App Store or Google Play. Furthermore, only manual deployment for Google Play is documented, making the App Store deployment process a little perplexing. The only way to automate your delivery and deployment is to use third-party solutions such as Fastlane or Bitrise.
In contrast, Flutter provides a comprehensive guide as well as useful tools for automating the deployment of your iOS and Android apps. The command line interface is the most straightforward way to deploy your application. Third-party solutions can also be used if you require advanced automation capabilities.
When to choose React Native for iOS app development?
- If you’re looking for an app development framework with a strong community, React Native is a good choice because it has an active developer community, a plethora of resources, libraries, and support.
- React Native app development framework provides a significant advantage in terms of code sharing because it allows mobile app developers to create apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. It saves a significant amount of time and effort.
- It is an obvious choice if you want to leverage your expertise and knowledge of the framework.
When to choose Flutter for iOS app development?
- Flutter’s hot-reload feature allows for real-time code changes, making development faster and more efficient. It is a good choice if you value quick iterations and want to shorten the development cycle.
- Flutter’s rendering engine enables it to provide high-performance, fluid, and native-like experiences on iOS devices. It is worth considering if your priority is performance and if you want your app to have a native feel.
- If you need highly customized UI designs and animations for your iOS app, Flutter provides you with more flexibility and control. Its widget-based approach allows you to create one-of-a-kind and visually appealing interfaces.
Check out our blog to gain more insights on why you should choose Flutter for your next app project.
A Final Verdict
Finally, this Flutter vs. React Native battle could be viewed as a cross-platform vs. native development contest. However, in this case, we’ve used the iOS platform as a context.
As a result, both languages are capable of allowing you to create iOS applications with incredible features.
Hence, whichever platform you choose for your next project, you will need a team of app development professionals to transform your app vision into reality. Therefore, collaborate with a Flutter app development company like DianApps which will help you reap the benefits.
Article source: https://medium.com/@marketing_96275/flutter-or-react-native-which-is-suitable-for-ios-app-development-9ac822372c6f
