Top Flutter 2.0 Features

by Ronak Patel Co Founder | CEO @ Aglowid IT Solutions

Google launched Flutter 2.0-next generation of Flutter, on March 3, 2021. Read on the blog to find the major updates and the Top Flutter 2.0 Features introduced in the framework.

Version 2.0 of Flutter-the open-source UI development kit enables building cross-platform applications with a single code base. The major upgrade has made Flutter stable for web-supportive application development. Flutter's web applications were not much impressive before. Further, the inclusion of new platforms is there.

Here is a quick look at the major updates in the framework:

Top Flutter Features 2.0

Web-specific features
Desktop-Specific Features
Flutter 2 on desktops, foldable, and embedded devices
Sound Null Safety
Google Mobile Ads Plugin
Multiple Flutter instances with Add-to-App:
Flutter DevTools
Flutter Fix

Google launched Version 1.0 in December 2018 with support for Android and iOS apps. In a brief span of 2 years, Flutter has achieved a huge milestone with the launch of Flutter 2.0. The game-changing features introduced in the recent version open the gateway to a guaranteed success of the framework.

Now let's find out the much-awaited answers to the question: What are the top features of Flutter 2.0?

Web-Specific Features

The most important attraction of the Flutter 2.0 release is production-quality support for the web.

Since the release of Flutter 1.0, Google has been working hard to improve Flutter's performance for the Web. The new version ensures a rich, seamless, and interactive web experience on desktop and mobile devices alike. The app-centric framework focuses on three web scenarios:

Progressive web apps (PWAs) combine the best capabilities of web and mobile for a native-like experience anywhere and on any device.
Single page apps (SPAs) work inside a browser and without a need for page reloading during use.
Upgrading existing Flutter mobile apps to the web, with the same single code base.
New Canvas-Kit-based renderer built with Web Assembly.
Link-Widget: to give an aura of the web app.

Desktop-specific features

Flutter’s desktop support is now stable. Flutter 2.0 is an early release preview for the final stable release which will release later this year. The motive is to offer a native-like experience on all platforms alike. The key additions in Flutter 2.0 features for desktop are- Text selection pivot points, mouse dragging with accuracy, a built-in context menu, and more.

First, with features like text selection pivot points, text editing operates as a native experience on all supported platforms.

Second, instantly stop keyboard events, even at the initiation.

Third, drag with a high-precision mouse. No need to wait when handling touch input.

Fourth, the addition of a built-in context menu has the TextField and TextFormField widgets for Material and Cupertino design languages.

Fifth, the updated scrollbar widget facilitates interactiveness in the desktop-flutter app using a thumb. Also, the new ScrollbarTheme class to customize the app as per their choice.

Finally, Google adds grab handles to the ReorderableListView widget.

Flutter 2 on desktops, foldable, and embedded devices

Flutter 2 also stretches support for desktop, foldable, and embedded devices. For a practical explanation, we discuss three partnerships to show Flutter’s portability. The three companies have introduced the new and the best Flutter 2.0 features in their apps.

Firstly, Ubuntu is an open-source operating system on Linux. Flutter contributes code for development and deployment on Linux to deliver beautiful experiences. Ubuntu will apply Flutter for all of its apps in the future.

Secondly, Microsoft expands its support to Flutter for the emerging class of foldable Android devices. The key idea is to support "display features", including cutouts, hinges, and folds. These devices introduce new design patterns and take benefit of the dual-screen nature. They use a TwoPane widget to offer side-by-side experiences. Though, Flutter foldable support is still experimental.

Lastly, Toyota plans to bring a best-in-class digital experience to vehicles. They will use Flutter 2.0 features to develop Flutter-powered infotainment systems. Toyota chose Flutter because of its high performance, fast iteration, consistency, and smartphone-tier touch mechanics.

Sound Null Safety

A major addition to the Dart language, that enables distinguishing nullable types from non-nullable types. Null mistake crashes are a common area reason for apps to crash. Null checking into the type machine helps to stop these errors during development. Thus, stopping crashes in production.

Google Mobile Ads Plugin

Google Mobile Ads SDK for Flutter is an ultra-innovative plugin. This Flutter 2.0 feature gives inline banners and native commercials unifying help for Ad Manager and Admob. For instance, Sua Musica- the Latin America platform for independent artists released their new Flutter app with the Google Mobile Ads SDK. They notified a 350% growth in Impressions and a 43% growth in CTR.

Moreover, find all useful assets, inline Banner and native advertisements code lab, on Flutter. dev web page.

Multiple Flutter instances with Add-to-App

One of the interesting features of the Top Flutter 2.0 Features. With the Flutter Add-to-App feature, add Flutter to any of your existing applications. Reuse the same code for iOS and Android mobile application development.

Flutter Fix

Flutter 2.0 is gaining enormous community support. Soon, it will cross 5 lakhs Flutter app developers. With such a huge community upgrading the framework, they tend to avoid modifications to the Flutter framework API.

The Flutter Fix feature of Flutter 2.0 comes to the rescue here. It enables you to change the code with a click on your mouse.

FlutterDevTools

DevTools is a device for debugging Flutter apps. Now, its new name is Flutter DevTools. Pressing a button on DevTools brings you to the Flutter Inspector widget displaying the problem. You can easily restore it.

Another feature is cap potential for Android Studio, IntelliJ, or Visual Studio Code. It debugs all the issues before the app release.

Conclusion

There is much more to the Flutter 2.0 release and the Top Flutter 2.0 features. The framework is making exemplary improvements and advancements in the framework to make it more compatible and interesting for both developers and end-users.

If you have an App development idea using Flutter, we recommend consulting with experts. We are a leading Flutter app development company having the best-in-market Flutter developers and specialists.

We offer free consultations for doubt solving. Ask queries on any topics-Flutter’s support for Android Studio/IntelliJ extension, Flutter support for Visual Studio Code extension, DataPad updates. Develop high-tech flutter apps with us.