Have you ever developed a new mobile app by evaluating your idea in isolation? Most startup owners have. And this may be a real disaster… Feedback is vitally crucial at the early stages of your product development. This is where building a Minimum Viable Product comes in, but how can you best conduct MVP development? How do you even create a minimum viable product with Flutter architecture? Is it okay to use open source solutions? If so, what are the best open sources for such an initiative? Many people consider Flutter to be extremely useful.
Flutter is Google’s cross-platform development framework. It has been created to build native apps in iOS and Android from a single codebase. This open-source solution was launched in December 2018 and since then it has been adopted by many organizations. A quick look at Google Trends shows that Flutter has reached its peak popularity in the last few months. According to Google itself, nearly half a million developers use Flutter every month.
So, is Flutter good for MVP?
How can Flutter actually help in developing your MVP framework? Below, check out the most important advantages of using Flutter MVP architecture and where the framework is flawed.
It saves much of the cost
Yes, that’s right. Flutter supports cross-platform development. Developers just write one codebase for both platforms – iOS and Android. The code can be reused and the majority of issues can actually be fixed in one codebase. Developers do not need to employ separate solutions for separate problems, e.g., for MVP architecture in Android. The code can be reused and is similar for all platforms. Your team only needs to know what language to use. Also, Flutter is a perfect way to create cost-effective apps. Unfortunately, cost limitations have always been a huge struggle for businesses that want to enter the mobile space. As Flutter supports the development of apps using a single code base, you can ease the process of working on both platforms.
It saves time
An MVP is a time-saver in developing a final product, and Flutter is a great way to build apps faster. For starters, Flutter allows the developer to write 1 code for 2 platforms – Android and iOS. What is more, developers see the latest changes in the code spontaneously. This definitely makes the process easy and less time-consuming. Flutter MVP is perfect for collaboration – developers, testers, and designers can work together and all changes take effect instantly. Thus, developers take less time to create and the app development process suddenly becomes quick and easy. There is also Flutter’s hot reload feature for MVP. It allows you to add new features and fix bugs within minutes. This means the new version doesn’t have to be coded entirely and you can make the experimentation process much faster.
It reduces resource requirements
As we mentioned in the article about the MVP, the MVP-related strategy usually works with a minimal amount of resources. You don’t even have to do server-side programming – Flutter comes with Firebase integration. This enables you to use features like analytics, hosting, real-time database, authentication, crash reporting, cloud storage, and other functions, etc.
It is light and reliable
Flutter was created by Google. This is why it is considered to be one of the most reliable open source solutions for MVP. Community support is absolutely massive. Also, setup can be arranged seamlessly as the tool doesn’t require any powerful machinery: Windows 7 and 400 MB is enough to run Flutter on your equipment of choice.
It comes with very useful integrations
Flutter is compatible with many tools that will make developing your MVP much easier. First of all, Firebase – this means you don’t need to build your own backend for your simple MVP. Also, thanks to Supernova, you can export Sketch designs directly to code. Then, you can just focus on the value you’re delivering to your customers. Flutter also comes with Firebase Remote Config – this is a handy solution if you want to modify your app in seconds. This tool lets you test different approaches on real users when you don’t want to wait weeks for a new app store development.
You may also be interested in: 10 Best Mobile Apps Built With Flutter
The cons of using Flutter for MVP development
Like everything in life, Flutter isn’t free of flaws. What do you have to know about Flutter before making the final decision in developing your MVP?
It’s new
Flutter’s novelty is a blessing and a curse. Many ‘older’ libraries that already work well in native solutions are in the beginner stage when it comes to Flutter. Since starting work with Flutter at BinarApps, we have realized that if we want more specialized solutions, e.g., geolocation, advanced camera support, or even visuals – we need to use native solutions. Of course, the number of these libraries is increasing every month. However, one should remember that just because the library exists, it doesn’t mean that it is as reliable as the long-developed methods in native solutions.
It can slow down the development process
The problem with unreliable libraries may cause a situation where 20% of applications will be done in Flutter and 80% on native solutions for iOS and Android. Then the cost is no smaller and the application architecture is more complicated, which hinders development. Not to mention that there aren’t that many developers on the market who feel confident using Flutter. Finding a specialist or sending your developers to relevant workshops further slows down the process.
It’s too scattered
Sometimes, it is better to make a technologically vertical MVP and release a more complete product on only one platform. After that, it can be applied to other platforms. Having a solid app just for Android is better than a half-finished one for both Android and iOS. Flutter is a great tool for cross-platform development, but that can lead to losing focus and introducing too many features at once.
- Learn more about MVP development: What are some compelling reasons to develop an MVP?
Conclusion
Flutter may be an tremendous boon for your business. You don’t have to spend much money on licensing fees and at the same time you have the great support of a larger community. You can create your app much faster while complicated tasks are solved and handled on time. If you are planning an MVP, Flutter might pave the way for your success. It’s packed with different tools and features and they all support app development. However, relying on novelty can be risky. Sometimes it’s better to create a simpler but complete MVP than a paper-thin version that runs on all platforms. Using Flutter isn’t always cost-effective. You can also run into a problem finding people who really know how to use it.
Do you have more questions on how to create an MVP? Don’t hesitate to ask us!
January 3, 2021
