Nowadays, it has become a little challenging to choose the best framework technology to develop the app you want, as many of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. The most used framework is Flutter, and the oldest is Apache Cordova. Let’s compare them to help developers choose better.
OVERVIEW
Flutter is a very new framework created by Google. It was born in 2017, its technology is regularly developed, and each new version is more efficient than the last one.
Apache Cordova was born in 2009 and was later bought by Adobe, its name has changed to PhoneGap and later changed back to Apache Cordova, so these two frameworks are the same one.
THEIR WAY TO WORK
Flutter runs on a Dart program, and it has its own engine for visuals. This framework uses its own widgets to build its applications. Advantages and disadvantages are various; on the one hand, speed, high-performance level, a wide community of users and developers, and a very well-documented widgets library are definitely strong points. On the other hand, apps that are built with this framework will be different from the native ones, so they will have a different look.
Apache Cordova is an open framework; that runs with standard technologies and is therefore compatible with the native widgets; this allows it to show as a typical website when used by mobile phones. Applications built with this framework have only one widget to perform every necessary action. The community of developers has facilitated various free plugins to use with this framework.
HOW TO TEST IT, HOW TO FIX IT.
The process used to test the framework allows a significant improvement in performance and speed.
Flutter is ahead in this aspect as it has its own automated system to test the performance, possible mistakes, code analysis, and automated application updates when coding changes are made.
Meanwhile, Apache Cordova only offers some useful tools for debugging and allows developers to implement others for this purpose.
THE USER INTERFACE
An app built with Flutter will look exactly the same way on every platform. This framework updates the apps automatically to adapt the features to the platform used.
The visual of the applications built with Apache Cordova look the same way when used on different platforms, but this comes at a price; When using them, they feel more like a website built inside the application.
REVIEWING THE PERFORMANCE
Due to the platform used, the applications built with Apache Cordova are fast when opened on modern and powerful smart devices, but the speed decreases when used on cheaper models.
Flutter, on the other hand, does not use any type of bridge communication, which ensures the fast loading and functioning of the app at all times.
ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK
Flutter works with Dart, which is significantly newer for developers; even if the coding system is much easier to manage and learn than others, it still presents a challenge to work fluently with it. One point in favor of Flutter is that the library and community are growing quite quickly.
What’s next?
As mentioned above, Cordova is losing popularity ground. Meanwhile, Flutter seems to be more popular and keeps gaining ground in this aspect; even being far younger, Flutter seems to be the future of cross-platform apps.
If you have little time and need a fast application, use Apache Cordova. However, if you need a more carefully developed app with the right speed and nice visuals that can be used on both mobile and computers, Flutter is the right choice.