In the rapidly evolving world of mobile applications, the demand for high-quality apps is soaring. In 2017 alone, consumers downloaded 178 billion apps, and this number is projected to grow to 258 billion by 2022. Developers are at the forefront of this demand, tasked with creating apps that are not only functional but also exceptional. Enter Flutter, a groundbreaking cross-platform software development kit developed by Google. This open-source solution allows developers to create secure, high-performance native apps for both iOS and Android. Flutter's ability to compile Dart code directly into platform-specific programs without a JavaScript bridge ensures that apps run blazingly fast. Additionally, its hot reloading feature allows for instant updates, while built-in widgets and rich motion APIs ensure that apps are both responsive and visually stunning.
Purchasing the print version of this book comes with a complimentary eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications, offering flexibility in how you choose to read.
Flutter provides a comprehensive SDK that includes everything from a rendering engine to a testing environment, enabling the development of mobile applications with a single, feature-rich toolkit. Programs written in Google's intuitive Dart language are compiled into platform-specific code, ensuring that your iOS and Android applications perform like native Java or Swift apps.
"Flutter in Action" is your guide to building professional-quality mobile applications using the Flutter SDK and Dart programming language. The book begins with an overview of Dart essentials before delving into techniques for crafting beautiful user interfaces with Flutter's extensive collection of built-in widgets. Through a combination of diagrams, code examples, and annotations, complex topics such as routing, state management, and asynchronous programming become accessible and easy to understand.
Inside the book, you'll find insights into understanding the Flutter approach to UI, all the Dart you need to get started, creating custom animations, and testing and debugging. This resource is designed for readers with basic web or mobile app development skills.
Authored by Eric Windmill, a professional Dart developer and contributor to open-source Flutter projects, this book showcases his expertise. His work is prominently featured on the Flutter Showcase page, highlighting his contributions to the community.
The table of contents is structured to guide you through the learning process:
**PART 1 - MEET FLUTTER**
1. Meet Flutter
2. A brief intro to Dart
3. Breaking into Flutter
**PART 2 - FLUTTER USER INTERACTION, STYLES, AND ANIMATIONS**
4. Flutter UI: Important widgets, themes, and layout
5. User interaction: Forms and gestures
6. Pushing pixels: Flutter animations and using the canvas
**PART 3 - STATE MANAGEMENT AND ASYNCHRONOUS DART**
7. Flutter routing in depth
8. Flutter state management
9. Async Dart and Flutter and infinite scrolling
**PART 4 - BEYOND FOUNDATIONS**
10. Working with data: HTTP, Firestore, and JSON
11. Testing Flutter apps
This book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to master Flutter and Dart, providing the tools and knowledge needed to create stunning, high-performance mobile applications.