If you enjoy building mobile apps, imagine having to navigate and learn both Android and iOS frameworks in order to do so. On top of that, you would have to write the code twice to ensure compatibility across both platforms. However, with the use of a cross-platform development tool like Flutter, you can work smarter and more efficiently, ultimately saving time and effort.
This article comprehensively explains everything you need to know to begin using Flutter. Then, it explains how to Start your first Flutter app in the Windows operating system.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit developed by Google for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop platforms from a single codebase. Flutter uses the Dart programming language, also developed by Google, and offers a rich set of pre-built and customizable widgets for building beautiful and high-performance user interfaces.
Why Flutter?
Flutter is becoming increasingly popular among developers because it allows them to build cross-platform apps quickly and efficiently, reducing the time and resources needed to develop and maintain separate codebases for different platforms. This is especially important for startups and small businesses with limited resources, as well as larger enterprises looking to improve their time-to-market for new products and services.
Building your first Flutter Application
Install Android Studio
We need to install Android Studio because one of the essential tools in Android Studio is the emulator, which allows you to test your apps on a virtual Android device without needing a physical device.
Setup your Android Studio
After installing Android Studio, click on the three dots and select SDK Manager to open it.
Ensure you have selected the Android SDK Command-line Tools option and completed its installation process.
Lastly, creating the Android emulator to execute and examine your Flutter code on it is imperative. To do that, click the three dots and select Virtual Device Manager to open it. If you do not have an emulator, click “Create device” and create one.
Install Flutter
Please visit the official website and select the compatible option for your operating system to install Flutter.
Setup your Flutter
Following the download process, extract the file and relocate it to the C Drive.
Next, click on your computer’s Start button and proceed to open the system environment variables editor by searching for the option “Edit the system environment variables”.
Subsequently, click on “Environment Variables”, followed by selecting the “Path” option, and then click on the “Edit” button.
Copy the path of the “bin” folder located inside the Flutter folder, and subsequently, paste it as a new entry within the newly opened pop-up window and then click “OK”.
Agree to Android Licenses
Open your terminal and run this command:
flutter doctorYou may encounter two identified issues; the initial issue highlights the absence of “Visual Studio Code,” which requires installation. The second issue indicates that you must acknowledge and accept the Android licenses, so you have to run this command and accept them all:
flutter doctor --android-licensesSummary
In conclusion, following the steps mentioned above, you can kick-start your journey toward developing and building your first-ever Flutter application. However, it’s essential to remember that Flutter offers an extensive range of features and functionalities, and this guide has only scratched the surface. As you continue to explore and delve deeper into the platform, you will uncover many resources and opportunities to hone your skills and knowledge.
Whether you’re an experienced developer or a novice, the versatility and flexibility offered by Flutter make it an ideal choice for developing applications across various domains and platforms. So, go ahead and embark on this exciting journey with Flutter and let your creativity and imagination take flight.
