Google announced Flutter 2.2, the latest version of its cross-platform app development framework, in a recent Google I/O event. The new version has many features to look forward to. The new Flutter version has come up with exciting improvements such as deferred Android components, iOS performance improvements, null safety features by default, desktop and dev tools improvements, etc.
It has been a couple of months since the release of the new version, but it has already come up with several improvements. These improvements will have an incredible impact on Flutter’s overall performance.
There is much to know about the new Flutter 2.2 version. Its features, functionalities, and how it is better than the previous version.
In this blog, we will take a deep look at the features of Flutter 2.2 and how they will impact the future of Flutter 2.2.
Table of Contents
Let us now see the hype and the new and improved features Flutter 2.2 offers. Let us begin with the features now.
Dart 2.13
Flutter 2.2 has come up with the Dart 2.13 release. This new Dart feature contains a new type of alias that allows developers to create aliases for various functions. It also includes Dart FFI and updates on the null safety feature. The best thing about this type of alias is that it passes the type quality test.
Type alias
With this new feature, you can create a new name for any existing type and use this name instead of the existing type. Before Dart 2.13, users could create a type alias for the function. Now it’s extended to the variable type.
Dart FFI
FFI is a mechanism for calling C code. FFI has come up with a new feature in which the user can wrap the inline array directly in Dart. Dart 2.13 also includes other changes related to performance improvement and reducing the space consumed by the program.
Null Safety Update
If you create a project using the new Flutter 2.2, the project will be in the null safety update. Most of the Flutter plugins have been migrated to null safety. And, why not? It is safe to migrate the app to sound null safety.
Besides these features, Google has brought two more things to the Flutter 2.2 release. Let’s see what the two things Google highlighted in the recent release are.
Flutter For Tizen
The first is Flutter for Tizen. Tizen is an open-source Linux-based operating system that Samsung uses in its devices, such as TVs and smartwatches. Usually, you can develop apps using JavaScript or C++. Samsung has been working hard to build an extension for the Flutter SDK to let developers build Tizen apps.
Tizen is still in the testing stage. But it seems promising and can expand Flutter’s reach.
Flutter For UWP
UWP stands for Universal Windows Platform and is a great choice for building some modern-type apps in Windows 10. UWP supports the development of more native-looking web applications for Windows.
Desktop Updates of the New Release of Flutter 2.2.
- Custom Text Actions
The new Flutter release extended its support to a number of platforms with different input types. In this release, users have the freedom to customize the keystrokes associated with the text actions.
This new desktop feature of Flutter 2.2 opens up endless possibilities for Flutter app developers in the future. This new feature allows users to send a message with the Enter key and allows them to insert a line via CTRL+Enter.
- Automatic Scrolling
Another impressive feature of Flutter 2.2 is that a scrollbar will be added automatically whenever the content exceeds the screen height. Prior to this release, there was no automatic scrolling feature in Android and iOS.
The developer had to add the scrollbar manually before the release, but now there’s no such need. With this feature, Flutter also introduced customization for the scrollbar UI.
- Payments and Monetization
Flutter 2.2 has come up with a new plugin to add Google Pay to Android and iOS apps. It also allows new ad formats to be added via the Google Mobile Ads SDK. With the help of this plugin, it becomes easy to implement the payment process on both platforms.
With the help of this payment and monetization feature, it has become significantly easier to monetize the app through in-app purchases, payments, ads, etc.
- Windows UWP Apps
UWP apps run on a vast range of devices, including Xbox, where standard Windows apps don’t run. To enable UWP support in the app project, you have to switch the Dev channels and set up the prerequisites.
- Dev Tools
The development tools are as necessary as the end product, which helps the developers to build error-free apps. The new Flutter 2.2 features have introduced two memory tracking improvements and a new tab for the ‘provider’ plugin.
These memory-tracking improvements enable the developers to track down the objects as they are allocated efficiently. It becomes really easy for the developers to find a memory leak in the code with the help of these tools.
These were the new features included in the recently released Flutter 2.2 cross-platform app development framework. The new Flutter 2.2 will have a great impact on its overall performance.
The new features will bring a lot of change to the overall functioning and help developers develop great web applications in the future.
Wrapping up!
If you are planning to develop your next project with Flutter, a cross-platform app development framework, and want to make the most out of the new Flutter 2.2 features, then Metizsoft Solutions can help you out with it.
We have the right experience working with Flutter and developing highly robust apps with it. We can help you with the best cross-platform app development, and our team of developers will always be there for your assistance.
If you want to learn about the new Flutter 2.2 release or about our Flutter app development services, we are always here to hear you out. Reach out to us today.
