Despite being relatively young as a technology, Flutter is already one of the most popular cross-platform frameworks, with multiple businesses already using Flutter for their new applications. Google Pay, Alibaba’s Xianyu, eBay, or Nubank – all those apps were made with the Flutter framework. Do you want your new app to work on multiple platforms as well, but without worrying about poor performance or missing functionality? Then Flutter might be just the thing you need.
Unfortunately, because cross-platform technology is new and sophisticated, it isn’t easy to find Flutter developers who know how to use it. So, how can you find flutter devs to work on your new project? We have a few tips here – and we’ll share them with you in this article.
Why choose Flutter development?
In previous years, companies usually had two options when building a new mobile application.
Go with Native development
Native apps are known for their outstanding performance, design, and functionality. Their main drawback is that they can run only on one dedicated platform, though – so only Android or iOS. If you wanted a native mobile app for each operating system, then a mobile developer would have to create two separate apps for double the cost.
Go with Cross-platform development
Cross-platform development tools allow a mobile developer to build a single application that can run on both operating systems. As they are using a single codebase for the development, the mobile app is ready much faster and also costs less than two native apps would. To make the application work on Android and iOS, some compromises regarding design, functionality, and performance had to be made though. That made cross-platform applications often considered subpar.
In that sense, Flutter is revolutionary as it can give companies the best of both worlds. As it’s a cross-platform framework, it allows developers to build one app that can run on multiple platforms. Thanks to the widget library meanwhile, developers can add numerous features (even native ones) to their applications with ease.
But there are far more reasons why developers and businesses alike adore Flutter:
High performance
Flutter’s main programming language, Dart, can compile the app code into native code for multiple platforms directly. That makes Flutter apps load faster and run smoother compared to other cross-platform tools like React Native, which need to use a Javascript bridge to compile the code.
Faster development
Besides enabling developers to build several apps just from one shared codebase, Flutter also has a few other features that allow developers to speed up the development process. For example, the “Hot reload” feature allows developers to save time by being able to make changes to the code and see the results without having to restart the app each time.
Unmatched versatility
Flutter supports Android, iOS, Windows, and since Flutter 3, also macOS and Linux development. The framework can also be used for Progressive web apps, wearable devices, and it can even be added to already existing mobile apps!
Stable support from Google
Flutter is an open-source project backed by Google, which means that the SDK and the widget library are regularly updated. Google also shares detailed Flutter documentation and guides on their website for anyone that wants to learn how to use it.
What skills should a Flutter developer have
Thanks to all those benefits, it only took three years for Flutter to go from an entirely new development method to being more popular than much older React Native. That also means that Flutter developers are now in high demand, especially when it comes to building cross-platform mobile apps. As Flutter is relatively new though, it might be hard for companies to know what skills they should be looking for when hiring a Flutter developer.
To make your search easier, we’ve created a short list of hard skills to look for in your new Flutter developer:
- Experience in using Flutter software development tools and Dart language (as Dart is the main language used in Flutter development)
- Familiarity with other programming languages, such as Java, Kotlin, Swift, or JavaScript.
- Experience in developing applications for a given platform (Android and iOS for mobile app development or Windows/Linux/macOS for desktop)
- Knowing how to use control tools like Git and IDEs like Android Studio, etc.
- Being able to design and run automated tests
- For software development, knowledge of Agile methodologies and software development lifecycle
As you interview potential candidates, be sure to also look at soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills since these are just as important during a project as technical skills.
An excellent way to test both their hard and soft skills is to prepare a list of questions you will ask the developers during the interview. For example, you can ask the developers:
- To explain the difference between stateless and stateful widgets
- How would they add a given feature to the Flutter app
- How do they react to getting negative feedback,
- or what they would do if there’s a conflict inside the team.
How to find the best Flutter developers for your new project
You know what to look for when searching for a Flutter developer, now it’s time to plan how you’ll choose the best one. Technically, you could pick the first Flutter developer you come across online that seems to fit your needs. This might be hit or miss though – with the latter being far more likely. Spend some time researching your needs and interviewing the candidates though, and then you are sure to find an ideal candidate for your new Flutter developer.
So now, let’s go over how you should prepare for the search process in steps.
Make a list of your project requirements
Before you start searching for Flutter developers, you should note down your project requirements since those will help you match the right developers for your project. For example, if you plan to build a cross-platform mobile app, then you should make sure that the developers you want to hire have experience in mobile design and development.
By having the required skills and experience level list ready, you’ll be able to narrow down your options just to the developers that match your project requirements.
Decide on a hiring model
The second thing that you have to think about carefully is whether you want to hire the developer full-time or rather you only need them for one project. Hiring a developer in-house might be a good decision if you want to increase your main team skills and you know you’ll have enough work for the developer after the current project ends. Unfortunately, that’s currently the most expensive hiring option since you have to pay for the hiring process, plus factor in the cost of salaries, benefits, taxes, office supplies, licenses, etc.
For one-time projects though, it might be a better option to either add a Flutter developer to your main team via team augmenting or consider hiring an outsourced development team to handle the project. While the upfront costs might seem pretty high, you’ll save money on salary, office supplies, and benefits in the long run. Plus, you can hire outsourced developers for as long as you need – for one project, one project stage, or even just to help with an unexpected issue.
Look for the developers online
Now that the prep work is finished, you can start with the actual search. Where exactly should you look for the developers to hire, though? You have several options available – Linkedin, job portals for freelancers, tech platforms, and more. Here it would be best to stick to reputable hiring portals though, as those verify the freelance developers’ and development teams’ profiles before adding them to the portal and also ensure that their reviews are trustworthy.
Be wary of very low hourly rates
When browsing the internet for Flutter developers, you might find profiles or websites with hourly rates much lower than those you see on reputable job portals or development companies. However, picking a developer just because they offer an attractively low price for their services might quickly land you in trouble. More often than not, low price usually means low experience – so it might turn out you’ll have to pay double later just to fix or remake the product you got from them.
Experienced developers meanwhile will charge more, but they can guarantee you’ll get your new Flutter application looking and working exactly the way you want it.
Plus, they usually also know how to bring the web or mobile development project cost down but without compromising on the product’s quality – so you can get a high-quality product for less.
Always check the developers’ portfolio
Looking at developers’ portfolios can give you plenty of insight into their technical skills and experience. Aside from showing you what programming languages and technologies they know and for what clients they have worked before, examples of their previous work can also help you determine their design skills and attention to detail.
Developers who have already worked on Flutter projects usually have case studies and testimonies from past projects on their website – if they don’t, that should raise your suspicion.
Also check if the developers are participating in online tech discussions or sharing their knowledge with others, as that’s one of the best signs they are both talented and eager to share their knowledge with others. For example, our Flutter developers at INVO created a video course for people who want to learn how to use Flutter in practice called “Flutter Fighters.”
Set up an Interview
Once you have found a few Flutter developers whose profiles caught your eye and that match your main requirements, it’s time to invite them to an interview meeting. Interviewing each candidate might seem time-consuming, but those will help you to confirm the developers’ experience, skills and also show what kind of people they are. Plus, if a developer exaggerated their experience a bit in their profile, you’ll be able to quickly spot that during the talk as well, especially if you’ll have a list of questions or a practical task prepared for the candidates in advance.
What can our Flutter team at INVO do for you?
Do you want to use Flutter in your project, but you don’t have time to search, interview, and hire the right people for the task? Our Flutter team, made of over 20+ talented Flutter developers is here for you. They can handle all aspects of your project, from UI/UX design to testing, so you rest assured that your project will be in good hands.
Get in touch with our team today, and let’s talk about how we can turn your project idea into a full-fledged product.
Start working with a Flutter Developer
It’s been only five years since Flutter was released – and yet it’s already seen as the number one cross-platform development method. With experienced Flutter developers at your side, companies can now have cross-platform applications with fantastic functionality and a fully customized design.
Do you want to take advantage of the various Flutter development benefits as well? Then, how about scheduling a quick call with us to discuss your needs? Together, we can build a Flutter app you will be proud of.
