React native by Facebook and Flutter by Google are two examples of the most popular and well-known technologies used in cross-platform application development today.
Since react native and flutter are designed and presented by professional and powerful companies, most activists in this field are always looking to compare them with each other. Therefore, in the following, we will examine and compare react native and flutter from the perspective of a developer. But before that, it’s not bad to see what react native and flutter are and what technology needs in today’s world.
What in the world today needs react native and flutter?
Given the vast world of mobile applications, which is growing in size every moment, every company needs to compete with others to stay in this space. So companies are looking for a way to produce apps compatible with iOS and Android, in the shortest possible time and with minimal resource requirements.
Obviously, Google and Apple have both provided their own native technologies and tools for designing and producing applications for their audiences. People who want to design and produce a suitable application for the iOS system can use Xcode and Swift, while those interested in producing Android applications can use Android Studio or Kotlin / Java.
Engineers and programmers who intend to produce applications with each of these technologies must learn how to work with them separately.
Also, if a company intends to produce its application and publish it in both iOS and Android versions, it is necessary to spend a lot of time separately on each of these technologies.
Thus, intermediate technologies such as react native and flutter emerged to allow programmers to design their applications on an interface platform without having to learn the skills of working with technologies such as Swift, Xcode, and the like, under a specific programming language. And then adapt it to iOS and Android systems on the same platform and make it available to the public.
Familiarity with React native and Flutter
The React native project was started by Facebook as an open source company and was introduced in 2015. Flutter, on the other hand, was introduced and launched by Google in 2017.
Both technologies are for helping app developers and developers, with the goal of eliminating the need for them to learn Android and iOS-specific technologies, as well as saving them time and energy.
Although React native and flutter were released two years apart. Since they are two powerful manufacturers, they need to be compared in different ways to better understand them.
react native and flutter can be compared and examined in terms of the following indicators:
- Programming language
- Technical structure
- installation method
- Set up and receive approvals
- UI and API components developed
- Developer efficiency
- Support forums
- Testing and testing support
- Production and publishing automation support
- CI / CD support
In the following, we will review and compare these 10 indicators about react native and flutter.
1- Comparison of react native and Flutter in terms of programming language
As mentioned earlier, a strong point in both react native and flutter technologies is the ability to write applications in a specific programming language for both iOS and Android.
React native and JavaScript
React native uses JavaScript to design cross-platform applications. JavaScript is currently one of the most popular and widely used web programming languages. This language is used with React and many Java frameworks. In this way, a person who is proficient in JavaScript programming, with just a little time to learn react native technology, will be able to easily design and produce an application for iOS and Android.
Flutter and Darts
Dart, unveiled by Google in 2011, is one of the few programming languages rarely used by programmers. The syntax of darts is such that learning it is easy and fast for JavaScript programmers. Therefore, learning darts and then using Flutter is an easy and feasible topic for programmers who intend to use this technology to produce their desired applications.
Conclusion
If we want to compare react native and flutter only from the point of view of programming language, we must say that using native native is much easier and more acceptable for programmers who are fluent in JavaScript. Although learning to use flutter is not a difficult and complex subject, but in this index, the superiority of react native over flutter is evident only from the point of view of using a more well-known programming language among users.
2- Technical structure
It is important for us to be aware of its technical structure when choosing a suitable framework for developing cross-platform applications. This way we can choose the best framework whose structure is according to the needs and type of project we want.
React native – FLUX stream
The overall structure of react native is based on the JavaScript bridge. In this way, JavaScript code is converted to native code at runtime. React native uses the Facebook flux structure in its structure. For more information on this topic, you should read the articles and resources published in the introduction of Flux, but in general it should be said that the structure of react native is such that JavaScript code by JavaScript bridges to native modules intended for iOS And Android converts.
Flutter – Skia
We know that flutter uses the dart framework and thus has unique internal components in its core structure that convert the program written by its user to native modules without the need for bridges.
In fact, the structure of the dart is such that it provides the user with various frameworks, including Material Design and Cupertino, in the form of a package. The Dart framework uses the C ++ Skia engine, which has all the protocols, ballads, and channels.
Conclusion
Given what i have said, if we want to compare react native and flutter only in terms of technical structure, we must say that flutter by default has many components in its structure and designing an application by it does not need to use bridges Does not have to be into readable and executable majuses on iOS and Android. In fact, from this perspective, react native has performed and appeared to be slightly weaker than flutter.
3- Compare react native and Flutter in terms of installation method
According to the previous statement about the emergence of react native and Flutter to save developers time and energy, it is obvious that our chosen one should have the easiest installation method to achieve this increase in speed and prevent energy loss.
React native – NPM
React native can be installed by NPM or Node Package Manager. Developers and programmers familiar with JavaScript can easily install react native. Other programmers need to be trained in how to work with NPM. NPM can install packages locally or globally. In fact, developers need to know the exact location of the binary.
Flutter – Download binaries from resources
To install flutter, you can download the appropriate version for one of the platforms from Github binary.
Conclusion
Although both of these technologies lack easy installation and one step, as it turned out, Flutter has a few extra steps to install compared to react native. So if we just want to compare these two options based on how they are installed, I have to say that react native is easier to install.
4- Launching and receiving approvals
In fact, after installing these programs, receiving approvals and activating them is a category that requires time and energy. So if our goal is still to use these programs, to save time and prevent energy waste, we must see which of them has brought us more speed and ease of action.
React native
React native itself has all the necessary approvals to activate and transfer the project to readable modules of iOS and Android. Just get a list of them from a reputable source.
Flutter
It has a tool called CLI or Dr. Flutter that lets you know and get any information or confirmation you need. When Dr. Flutter is happy, it actually means that the operation is working properly and your project does not need further approval.
Conclusion
In this comparison, it is clear that flutter helps the user to receive approvals much better than react native by providing a smart and up-to-date assistant.
5- Compare react native and Flutter in terms of UI and API development components
It is important that our selected framework has the necessary API to access the native module to perform the operation we want without any damage or defects.
React native – fewer components
The core of the react native framework provides output from the UI and device or device access to the API. In order to access most native modules, react native has to do things based on third-party libraries. In fact, react native relies heavily on third-party libraries.
Flutter – Rich in components
Flutter has a wealth of features, including UI output, device API access, navigation, testing, full management, and library retrieval. So there is no need for third-party libraries in flutter. The flutter also has widgets for UI output and API access in Material Design and Cupertino.
Conclusion
It is clear that in this comparison flutter has much more advantages than react native.
6- Developer efficiency
In order for a programmer to be able to design and produce the desired application with the least amount of time and energy, it is necessary to use a framework that is compatible with his knowledge and skills and generally causes him the least concern.
React native
If a developer is proficient in the JavaScript programming language, he or she can easily apply his or her skills and knowledge in cross-platform application development frameworks. Among these frameworks, react native is one of those options that greatly avoids wasting programmer time and energy. IDE support, the ability to use any text editor and the like are some of the benefits of using react native for a programmer fluent in JavaScript.
Flutter
To work with Flutter and enjoy the benefits not found in react native or other frameworks, it is necessary for the user to spend some time learning the space and its commands, but then the task becomes easier and all the simple things will happen. Went. However, dart is not a common programming language and is not supported in many editors.
Conclusion
React native has become much more mature and appropriate in terms of up-to-date and common programming language and related tools.
7- Compare react native and Flutter in terms of support forums
The world of technology is such that people can not access all the knowledge contained in it through educational classes and videos alone, and suffice to learn theoretically and presented by professors. Rather, it is necessary for individuals and activists in this field to be in constant contact with each other and to learn new tips and experiences from each other. Therefore, in all branches of technology, there are usually online support forums, forums and blogs through which the activists of that branch share their questions and experiences with each other.
React native
In 2015, react native came and became flourished among the people. In the same year, an association was formed on GitHub for this framework, which included many conferences and online and face-to-face visits. Reactive meetings and conferences are taking place in many cities and countries today.
Flutter
It took a while for flutter to be released, but when Google unveiled it at the Google I / O conference, it quickly became popular and popular. Hence the flutter backup community is rapidly developing and operating. However, there are still no resources to answer and fix the problem for many users.
Conclusion
Obviously, there are many resources and people to help a react native user solve potential problems, but these features still need room for growth and optimization for the flutter user.
8- Test support
We know very well that writing tests and tests is the best way to find out about possible flaws in the written code. There is always a framework for testing and testing for each technology. It allows users to test items such as the UI and other important points of the designed application.
React native
Because JavaScript is the native language, the tools in JavaScript can be also for testing code. Tools like Jest can be for testing snapshots. When it comes to testing things like the UI, react native uses third-party libraries like Appium and Detox.
Flutter
Flutter has many testing possibilities. Widgets and test programs for various applications are provided in it. You can get a list of these widgets from reputable sites in this field.
Conclusion
It is clear that in this comparison, Flutter is more successful than react native. Because it has provided much more complete possibilities for testing the designed application to its user.
9- Comparison of react native and Flutter in terms of manufacturing and publishing automation
Publishing an app designed separately for iOS and Android alone is a troublesome and challenging project for developers. The code required for this part of the project is designing and publishing an application that is very complex.
React native
For react native, there are no automatic steps for releasing apps on iOS and Android. There is also a manual process for deploying an application designed in Xcode, which we have already given instructions for.
Flutter
For Flutter, there is a rich steps that automatically perform some sort of application release operation. There are strong commands for releasing multiple apps designed for both iOS and Android systems, according to Flutter documents.
Conclusion
It is clear that the application release process for flutter is much more professional and user-friendly than react native.
10- CI / CD support
CI or Continuous Integration and CD or Continuous Delivery is essential for any application. It is able to receive continuous feedback through them and subsequently prevent the publication of faulty code.
React native
React native has no official document for launching CI / CD. Of course, there are articles and content about CI / CD in react native. There is also an article explaining this with NeverCode.
Flutter
It has a section in Continuous Integration and Testing that provides links to external resources. However, flutter allows us to set up CI / CD in the easiest way possible.
Conclusion
What is evident in this index is that Flutter is easier to set up CI / CD than react native. Because react native does not follow a specific mechanism to do so.
total resulting
Although both react native and flutter frameworks can be as effective and efficient as their users need. Flutter appears to be much more efficient and successful than react native. In other words, although flutter does not have a common programming language, it may be chosen and used by many developers because it has many special advantages.