Open-source has always played a significant role in a way software is written and distributed; it has made the software development an easy, fun, and more convenient approach. Google’s free and open-source mobile app SDK for crafting high-quality native interfaces on cross-platforms in a record time of 120 FPS is the best example of a reliable mobile UI framework that Google has introduced.
Google’s Flutter UI framework, being an open-source cross-platform, is quickly embraced by the mobile app community as it lets you create mobile, web, and desktop apps just in a single codebase. Flutter has a thriving community with programmers putting their best efforts to take Flutter further to achieve new heights of success.
Just like other libraries, plugins and packages help to reduce the development time and extend the language’s capabilities the same way it offers significant functionalities, things like image caching, HTTP calls, to save the development time with the right set of tools.
Here I have curated a list of top Flutter libraries, packages, tools, and plugins to provide remarkable support in the Flutter app development. After conducting in-detail research, I have picked out the best list of things to support Flutter app development.
Top 10 Useful Flutter Libraries in 2020.
#1 fl_chart
To my knowledge, there is nothing official for the graphics yet, and fl_chart is a fantastic library that supports pie charts, bar charts, line charts, etc. It also provides impressive packages and parameters to customize the looks and feel of the graphs to develop data-intensive apps with features like drawling graphics, filtering, and analytics.
Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/
Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/
To understand more about the fl_chart and to add as well as install packages and to get started, go pleased through this reference.
#2 url_launcher
This Flutter package assists in launching URLs in mobile apps through predefined schemas and various functions as it supports both the operating system – iOS and Android. It is preferable when it comes to multiple URL schemas like HTTP, email and SMS.
Example
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:url_launcher/url_launcher.dart';
void main() {
runApp(Scaffold(
body: Center(
child: RaisedButton(
onPressed: _launchURL,
child: Text('Show Flutter homepage'),
),
),
));
}
_launchURL() async {
const url = 'https://flutter.dev';
if (await canLaunch(url)) {
await launch(url);
} else {
throw 'Could not launch $url';
}
}
Reference: Pub.dev
#3 GetIt
It is one of the most significant packages that can be used to architect your application for better performance. It is a simple Service Locator for Dart highly inspired by Splat. Get_It is used by many known applications built with Flutter, and at Bacancy Technology, we are using it with almost all the Flutter applications.
Most Common Usage:
- To access service objects like REST API clients, databases
- Access View/AppModels/Managers/BLoCs from Flutter Views
#4 rxdart
It’s a reactive functional programming library for Google Dart based on ReactiveX. Google Dart has come up with out-of-the-box Streams API to provide an alternative API to add RxDart functionality on top of it.
How to use RxDart
import 'package:rxdart/rxdart.dart';
void main() {
const konamiKeyCodes = const [
KeyCode.UP,
KeyCode.UP,
KeyCode.DOWN,
KeyCode.DOWN,
KeyCode.LEFT,
KeyCode.RIGHT,
KeyCode.LEFT,
KeyCode.RIGHT,
KeyCode.B,
KeyCode.A,
];
final result = querySelector('#result');
document.onKeyUp
.map((event) => event.keyCode)
.bufferCount(10, 1) // An extension method provided by rxdart
.where((lastTenKeyCodes) => const IterableEquality().equals(lastTenKeyCodes, konamiKeyCodes))
.listen((_) => result.innerHtml = 'KONAMI!');
Source: GitHub
#5 package_info
This library works as a bridge to fetch the application version information on both iOS and Android.
Usage:
import 'package:package_info/package_info.dart'; PackageInfo packageInfo = await PackageInfo.fromPlatform(); String appName = packageInfo.appName; String packageName = packageInfo.packageName; String version = packageInfo.version; String buildNumber = packageInfo.buildNumber;
Reference: StackoverFlow
#6 cached_network_image
CachedNetworkImage is used to present the images from the web and keep them in cache. It can be also used with placeholder and error widgets.
How to use
The CachedNetworkImage can be used directly or through the ImageProvider.
With a placeholder.
Source: Pub.dev
#7 font_awesome_flutter
This library contains 1588 awesome icons to use it in the application.
Its implementation is really simple and convenient
import 'package:font_awesome_flutter/font_awesome_flutter.dart';
class MyWidget extends StatelessWidget {
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return IconButton(
// Use the FaIcon Widget + FontAwesomeIcons class for the IconData
icon: FaIcon(FontAwesomeIcons.gamepad),
onPressed: () { print("Pressed"); }
);
}
}
Reference: Pub.dev
#8 flushbar
With Flushbar, it is so convenient to create error messages, quick information messages, and warning messages to notify users and guide them about certain actions.
Demo: Global Notification Using Flutter Routes
#9 dio
Dio is a renowned powerful Http client for Dart that supports FormData, Global configuration, Request Cancellation, timeout, file loading, interceptors, and more.
Demo: How to make an Http Request
#10 SQFLite
In Flutter, there is no built-in abstraction for the right use of SQLite Database; however, with the SQFlite plugin, it is so convenient to access both Android & iOS with the help of the SQLite database. This well-maintained plugin is highly recommended by the Flutter team.
To know more about check out the SQFlite Flutter Tutorial
Top Flutter Development Tools
#1 Firebase
Firebase is a fantastic tool with so many functionalities like analytics, realtime database, Admob, messaging, hosting, crash reporting, and Firebase Authentication. With Firebase, it is so convenient to integrate on a Flutter app and shop it on a cross-platform application. Firebase APIs can be used as unified backend into a single SDK.
Checkout the pre-packaged Firebase Extensions here:
#2. RIVE
Rive was previously known as 2Dimentions. Rive work on real assets, and it allows you to design UI or character that didn’t depend on the mockups. With Rive it is so convenient to add load files in your app or game.
#3 pub.dev
It’s a command-line tool that makes it easy to install and use the Dart libraries with the numbers of packages available at the Pub.dev.
#4 Screenshots
It is a standalone command-line utility and package for capturing screenshot images for Flutter. Screenshots can be integrated into Flutter to work evidently on both iOS and Android.
Demo of Screenshots in action:
screenshots from Maurice McCabe on Vimeo.
#5 Codemagic
If you are looking for a tool to boost the Flutter app development process, then Codemagic comes as a handy tool. With Codemagic, it is so convenient to automate the whole process of your Flutter application.
Top Flutter Development Packages
#1 Image_picker
Image_picker is a flutter plugin that widely used for selecting images on both the OS libraries.
Example: Image Picker plugin for Flutter
import 'package:image_picker/image_picker.dart';
class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
@override
_MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}
class _MyHomePageState extends State {
File _image;
Future getImage() async {
var image = await ImagePicker.pickImage(source: ImageSource.camera);
setState(() {
_image = image;
});
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(
title: Text('Image Picker Example'),
),
body: Center(
child: _image == null
? Text('No image selected.')
: Image.file(_image),
),
floatingActionButton: FloatingActionButton(
onPressed: getImage,
tooltip: 'Pick Image',
child: Icon(Icons.add_a_photo),
),
);
}
}
Source:Dunebook
#2 Path_provider
This Flutter Plug.in package is used to discover files in the iOS and Android development environment.
Example: Path_provider
Directory tempDir = await getTemporaryDirectory(); String tempPath = tempDir.path; Directory appDocDir = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory(); String appDocPath = appDocDir.path;
#3 sqflite
This plugin supports both the operating systems – iOS and Android.
- Supports transaction and batch processing
- Automatic version management during the start
- It has helpers for insert, query, update, delete queries
- DB operations in the background thread
Usage example
Import sqflite.dart import 'package:sqflite/sqflite.dart';
#4 Scope model
The scope model is a set of utilities to pass a data model from the parent widget to descendants. It has basically three main classes in the library called model class, ScopeModel widget, and scopeModelDescendant widget.
Example:
/**
Create a class that holds some view state
The counter starts at 0 and can be incremented.
Note: It must extend from the Model.
*/
class CounterModel extends Model {
int _counter = 0;
int get counter => _counter;
void increment() {
// First, increment the counter
_counter++;
// Then notify all the listeners.
notifyListeners();
}
}
/**
Create our App, which will provide the `CounterModel` to
all children that require it!
*/
class CounterApp extends StatelessWidget {
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
/**
First, create a `ScopedModel` widget. This will provide the `model` to the children that request it.
*/
return new ScopedModel(
model: new CounterModel(),
child: new Column(children: [
/**
Create a ScopedModelDescendant. This widget will get the
CounterModel from the nearest ScopedModel.
It will hand that Model to our builder method and rebuild any time the CounterModel changes (i.e., after we `notifyListeners` in the Model).
*/
new ScopedModelDescendant(
builder: (context, child, model) => new Text('${model.counter}'),
),
new Text("Another widget that doesn't depend on the CounterModel")
])
);
}
}
Source: Dunebook
#5 Flutter_webview_plug-in
If you want your Flutter app to communicate with the native Webview, then Flutter_webview_plug-in is such a handy package.
new MaterialApp(
routes: {
"/": (_) => new WebviewScaffold(
URL: "https://www.google.com",
appBar: new AppBar(
title: new Text("Widget webview"),
),
),
},
);
Source: Dunebook
Bonus: Top 10 Flutter Plugins
Make use of these best Flutter plugins to save your lots of development time.
#1 Flutter Plugins: This repository has been introduced by the official Flutter team with backbone features if a mobile app such as WebView, Video Player, Maps, Alarm Manager, Firebase service, etc.
#2 SpriteWidget: This toolkit is used to create complex and high-performance animations and 2D games for a full-fledged game.
#3 Zebra EMDK: For the convenient access of barcode scanner API.
#4 Proximity Sensor Plugin: To access the proximity sensor of your device.
#5 Google Mobile Vision: An implementation of Google Mobile Vision.
#6 Offline: To deal with offline and online connectivity.
#7 Snaplist: To make snappable list views.
#8 Calendar Widget: To scroll a calendar list of events.
#9 Flutter Location: This plugin handles callbacks when the location is changed.
#10 Speech Recognition: Recognize the speech in the OS10+ / Android 4.1+
Wrapping Up:
I hope that you have liked the best Flutter libraries,tools, packages, and plugins. The above list is definitely not complete; it’s a small collection of my personal knowledge and limited preferences. If you think I have missed essential flutter libraries,tools, packages, and plugins, then feel free to comment below. I would love to hear all the great names in the comment section below.
So, if you are looking for Flutter app Development Company, who have well-versed Flutter developers with the proficient knowledge of above libraries, tools, packages, and plugins, then hire Flutter developer from us. We can help you build cross-platform sophisticated mobile apps in record time and get a full spectrum of flutter development services.
