It all starts with December 4, 2018, when Flutter was arrived to take the industries by storm. Before the advent of Flutter, whenever it comes to developing cross-platform apps, the mobile app development company suggests either Kotlin or React Native app development. Flutter has brought revolutionary changes in developing hybrid or cross-platform apps and started gaining fame across the developer’s community swiftly. Today, developers and entrepreneurs equally like Flutter app development.
Let’s compare Flutter and Kotlin to understand what is preferable for developing cross-platform apps for modern enterprises. But before comparing, let’s have a brief introduction of both these robust platforms.
Flutter- Google Supports It
Google has developed this open-source platform for developing feature-rich apps for iOS, Android, and web domains. It offers a single API for and a single codebase for developing an app that can flawlessly run on multiple platforms simultaneously. Google has developed this platform by keeping the Google Fuchsia OS in mind. Google Ads, eBay, and The New York Times apps are based on Flutter. Higher customizability, rich libraries, and Hot Reload are key reasons for its growing popularity.
Kotlin- Official Programming Language for Android Apps
Kotlin is an open-source language that has a Kotlin Multiplatform feature. It complies with JavaScript and the JVM bytecode. Kotlin is an official programming language for developing Android apps. However, mobile app developers can make feature-rich apps for iOS and web domains also using this platform. Companies like VMWare and Yandex have developed apps for Kotlin. The language has syntax similar to Java and Swift, so it is an easy language for developers.
Let’s compare Kotlin and Flutter and now.
Head-to-Head Comparison between Flutter and Kotlin
Popularity
Since its launch in the year 2018, Flutter has taken the mobile app development domain by storm. Though both Kotlin and Flutter are free-to-use app development frameworks, Google Trends shows that the popularity of Flutter is rising sharply as compared to Kotlin in a short time. Github also reflects this trend. On Github, Flutter leads with 88.7k stars whereas Kotlin has got just 31.1k starts.
Ease of Learning
Kotlin is based on JavaScript and interoperable with Java. It makes the language and Kotlin Multiplatform easy for developers. Java has remained the favorite language in the Android app development and developers can easily build apps using Kotlin for this reason. Flutter is based on Dart, a language developed by Google. Though this is also an easy-to-learn language, it is a bit difficult to understand for developers.
Performance
Flutter enables developers to use Dart language for developing the layout and backend. Kotlin Multiplatform code can readily compile in the target platform. In a way, both these frameworks are equally beneficial when it comes to developing high-end enterprise apps. Here, it is fair to mention that Kotlin apps are highly safe and compatible whereas Flutter apps are quick-to-load.
Third-party Integration
When you hire Flutter developers, they can easily integrate third-party APIs and tools to build cross-platform apps. Also, Flutter supports Material Design for Android and Cortana for iOS apps. In Kotlin development, developers can employ the same tools and libraries while developing apps. For example, it is easy to integrate Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI for eliminating the need for any third-party tools. Flutter needs to integrate with third-party tools and libraries.
Multiplatform Development
Flutter app development can build apps for Android, iOS, and web apps. However, Flutter does not support for developing apps for tvOS or WatchOS to date. Kotlin, on the other hand, has no such restriction. Kotlin is developed for various software projects beyond Android and iOS. Developers can build apps for multiple devices and platforms with the help of Kotlin.
Top comments (7)
What's missing in your description, I think, is that those are two very different approaches to multiplatform, which one is best depends heavily on your use case.
Flutter is a top-down approach: a team at Google provides you with something like a multiplatform game engine to develop your applications. Easier to get started, but you might be restricted by what the game engine can do.
Kotlin MPP is a bottom up approach: you define what part of your codebase can be shared on both platforms, like business logic, tests, networking, sqlite, ... Then you build a native iphone and android UX that make use of that shared codebase.
Kotlin's Newer version KMM (Kotlin Mulitplatform Mobile) may change the future of cross-platform mobile app development.
For mobile info about KMM, Watch the introductory video, in which Kotlin Product Marketing Manager Ekaterina Petrova explains what Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile is and how to use it in your project.
Video link - youtu.be/mdN6P6RI__k
Kotlin Kotlin CLUB heheheh awesome
Your article is great. I think if there is any indication of heading such bold font it would make reading easier.
Thanks for Suggestion
The thing I find most exciting about flutter is canonical/ubuntu's vocal support of it for desktop apps. Microsoft is giving it some love also.