7 Key Flutter App Development Tips for Efficiency
Flutter UI toolkit is gaining good popularity and has now become one of the mainstream mobile app development technologies. Its community is expanding rapidly and it stands alongside React Native as a popular cross-platform app development framework.
So, here are 7 key tips for Flutter developers to speed up the development process:
1. Always utilize const constructors
The right practice is to use const contractors for Flutter app development while you create new widgets or just use the default widgets.
The const constructors allow Flutter developers to only rebuild the widgets that require an update. So, there is a slight improvement in the performance as the developers do not have to rebuild the entire widget.
Now, some may use state management packages, including mobs, provider, flutter_bloc, etc. for rebuilding only updated widgets. However, we do not require the use of external packages as the Flutter framework offers various classes out of the box that can help us meet this requirement. Flutter developers can employ “ValueNotifier” for it.
2. Split up into small widgets instead of a large widget
Make sure you do not end up creating a large widget. Instead, you must split your long code into multiple small widgets. It will help avoid the heavy build function associated with a large widget.
Moreover, you must never call a setState() at the top of the tree as when a setState() is called on a state all descendent widgets below will start rebuilding. Calling a setState() high in the hierarchy doesn’t make sense if the change is associated with a small part of the code.
Also Read: How to Hire Flutter Developers Offshore: Skills & Cost
3. Employ Lazy Loading
Flutter developers should implement lazy loading with callbacks so some data starts loading at the same instant it is called. Lazy loading will work efficiently when there are large Lists required to be loaded.
4. The use of itemExtent is crucial for long lists
In case you are working on very long lists of data elements, you might wish to make significant scroll jumps in the list. And so, you can simply use ItemExtent in the ListView, this will allow you to make controlled jumps in the scrolling.
5. Use If Null Operator (??)
?? (Null Operator) is used to check if the value of an element is null. So if it is null the operator will return the value after ‘??’. However, in the case it has a value, it will return that value.
return ABC?? 20; //this returns 20 as ABC is null, and it may return its own value when ABC isn’t null
One can use its shorthand assignment function when it is null:
ABC??=10 //this assigns the value 10 to ABC, given that ABC was null
6. Start using Spacer Widget
Developers use Container and define them certain height/width to establish a responsive space between widgets. However, this just looks good on a few screens and may overlap in smaller screen sizes.
The right option is to use Spacer Widget. So now you do not have to define Container(width:/heigh: ), instead, you can employ Spacer(flex: ).
7. No Text Style redefining hassle
One hassle was to define the text style every time some customization was required in the Text. Furthermore, this became hectic in the case of multiple themes (Full Black Theme, Light Theme, etc.).
So instead start using:
Theme.of(context).textTheme.title
Here the extreme also has other text styles except for the title. The reuse of Text Style makes the process convenient for multiple themes.
Conclusion:
Start using the above tips for efficient Flutter app development. Moreover, you can hire dedicated Flutter app developers starting at @1900/month at Adorebits.
