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There really isn't an alternative for what Flutter does, which is high quality cross platform apps that don't require separate UI code. Xamarin has Forms, but t
by jrs95 8y ago
There really isn't an alternative for what Flutter does, which is high quality cross platform apps that don't require separate UI code. Xamarin has Forms, but the UX is not nearly at the level of what you get from Flutter, and it would require some serious rework of how they render their widgets for that to change. Other solutions like Qt are just lagging behind, as much as I wish that weren't the case. Ultimately I think Google has the ability to make Flutter the primary platform for developing mobile apps in the future, if they emphasize it as the preferred way of making new Android apps and especially if they make it relatively easy to integrate Flutter into existing native apps. If it were possible to easily drop one screen into an iOS and Android app with Flutter, this would start getting immediate adoption because of how much time and money it can save. Ultimately that matters a lot more than "Google baggage" that only a small fraction of developers really care about.
- RobertRoberts 8y agoAt one point there wasn't an alternative to Angular either, look what we have now. Not only that, there's still native. Which means anyone can easily hold out that is on the fence for who knows what comes in the future. Principles matter at some level, which is why many businesses abandoned Godaddy a few years back. But also there's simple budget considerations. Google has cost us tons of money over the years adjusting to their services. Now we don't have to anymore, and it's a relief. If I am forced to spend money I'd rather spend it on something competition than to bolstering a belligerent monopoly and also support a system that will still be around, or at the very least, give two craps about our situation. Maybe you are too young to remember the bad old days with Microsoft was the mean kid on the block. Google is getting worse than Microsoft ever was. And that is really bad. (edit:React confusion)
- jrs95 8y agoI'd argue people left GoDaddy because their services suck. At least, that's been my experience with them. And at the same time, what they were doing wasn't unique, you have nearly unlimited alternatives in that space. I hope you're right with the Angular comparison though, I would love to see other projects move in a direction that truly competes with what Flutter is doing. As for native...you're right, I'll continue to tolerate it because none of the cross platform solutions are really "there" yet, Flutter included at the moment. It's interesting from a technical perspective, but I wouldn't bet on it for a serious project until it at least hits 1.0
- RobertRoberts 8y agoThe specific instance related to Godaddy that was the straw that broke things was the SOPA fiasco. Google has done many similar things, it could be argued even far worse things, and it's somehow survived so far. But to think it's any better of a company is to be myopic. Well, I am in no hurry with Flutter, we will see how things turn out in the next few years.
- RobertRoberts 8y agoA quick follow up, would this compete with Flutter? (just saw it linked on HN) https://microsoft.github.io/reactxp/ https://microsoft.github.io/reactxp/
- pjmlp 8y agoUntil Flutter is actually endorsed by the Android team I wouldn't even bother. PWAs are being pushed by the Chrome team and Microsoft, which I have more faith than on Dart/Flutter, specially as skills to sell. Likewise for C++ with native views, Qt or Xamarin. What I care about is using a language where Flutter is the last hope to make it relevant in the market. I don't need another one to pile on my Turbo Pascal, Oberon, Delphi list.
- Apocryphon 8y agoThere's always another bridge: https://tech.olx.com/fast-prototypes-with-flutter-kotlin-native-d7ce5cfeb5f1 https://tech.olx.com/fast-prototypes-with-flutter-kotlin-nat...
- pjmlp 8y agoThanks, to me it looks more attrition than the solutions I listed.