Flutter is a free, open-source framework that Google developed in the year 2018. After its release, the Flutter development kit that allows developers to create robust, cross-platform software applications from a single code database gained massive popularity among mobile application developers.
Flutter basically provides the necessary tools for building natively compiled and aesthetic-looking mobile applications available on the play store, apple store and other app stores.
Skip To
- Features and Advantages of Flutter
- What Language Do I Need To Learn For Flutter?
- Best Way To Learn Flutter for Beginners?
- How To Learn Flutter Fast – FAQs
- EndNote
Flutter codes execute extremely fast on ARM and Intel machines saving developers a lot of time. Flutter is also flexible and makes it possible for you to deploy the apps you create on any device (for example, mobiles, tablets and desktops), and it also has features like Hot reload, with the help of which you can build and iterate super fast.
It also allows you to customize anything you see on screen. Flutter is widely used and highly trusted by several developers worldwide.
If this seems like something that might interest you, you are now caught wondering ‘how to learn Flutter language’? Then this article will be valuable to you as it will give you an insight on ‘How to learn Flutter for beginners’?
Features and Advantages of Flutter
Before you read the steps on how to learn flutter fast, let us tell you why learning flutter is important.
- First of all, Flutter is really easy to install by yourself on your PC. There are no complex configurations or special permissions required. It works on all operating systems.
- Flutter uses a single language for development (Dart) for all its programs and relies on a single code base. Therefore, one can simply share the UI code and the UI itself using Flutter. This feature of Flutter is not available on any other cross-platform framework.
- Flutter provides an agile development environment and speedy code development time. The ‘Hot Reload’ feature of Flutter makes it simple to view the code after changes have been made to it without restarting the app or importing it to the test device.
- Simplified UI and custom animation feature available in Flutter aid in customizing almost anything that is a part of the User’s Screen.
What Language Do I Need To Learn For Flutter?
The programming language that students need to learn before they can understand the steps involved in ‘how to start learning Flutter’ or fully comprehend the features of Flutter is Dart.
Dart is a programming language that is similar in several aspects to other, more commonly used and popular coding languages like JAVA, JavaScript, Swift and .NET.
Just because you know another coding language does not mean you don’t have to learn Dart. Therefore the best way to learn Flutter is first to learn Dart because you need it to code in Flutter.
People who have a coding background will find it easier to learn Dart whereas people with no Computer Science background should invest more time in learning Dart before moving on to Flutter.
Other prerequisites that you need to have before you ask ‘how to start learning Flutter?’
Some good to have knowledge before starting on how to learn flutter fast apart from learning to code in Dart are:
- Concept of Object-Oriented Programming
- Hands-On coding experience in Java, C++, Swift or JavaScript
- Idea of or experience with mobile development frameworks like React Native or iOS Native.
How To Learn Flutter for Beginners?
Let us guide you through the step by step learning manual on ‘how to learn flutter language’:
Familiarize yourself with basic terms & concepts
The best way to learn Flutter is to be thorough with the basic terms and concepts like:
- Dart – Dart is the programming language that creates cross-platform mobile applications with the help of Flutter. It can be natively compiled by Google’s own compiler and deployed on any Android or iOS device without modifications.
Prior to knowing ‘how to start learning Flutter,’ one needs to be well-versed with Dart. - Widget – Widgets are essential units of UI in Flutter. They act as an interactive interface to the users (for example, a text field).
- Stateless Widget – Stateless widgets read information from props passed in by parent widgets without storing any data about the user interaction.
- Stateful Widget – A stateful widget updates the UI in response to the changes of storing information between invocations of its build function.
- Material App – A set of predefined widgets are known as Material apps. They implement Google’s material designing rules for mobile and desktops.
- Scaffold – Scaffold is needed to build multi-page applications. It helps you add screens with the basic outline in your application (like a template) without having to write lines of code.
- Theme – Themes in Flutter help change the appearance of your application in terms of size, color and fonts.
- Package – A Flutter project is also known as a package. A package can contain other projects that are bundled into packages.
- Build Context – When a widget tree renders, Build Context refers to an object providing information while it renders.
- Pub – Dart has a package manager called Pub that has reusable libraries & packages for Angular Dart and general Dart programs as well as Flutter.
- Hot Reload – This feature enables the users to change and UIs without any hassle. It allows to play around with multiple features and bug fixes. It does so by using the most recent source code information given to the running Dart Virtual Machine (VM).
- Hot restart – It can be defined as resetting and running an app again from the very beginning with a different logic. Here the runtime is not terminated.
- Cold restart – It refers to exiting an app and its associated runtime.
- Skia – Flutter uses a graphics library for UI development known as Skia.
Start with mini-tutorials or YouTube videos
If you are wondering how to learn Flutter from scratch, then you should definitely consider watching small tutorials or YouTube videos that give you an introductory idea about Flutter.
One can hop on to a website or go to YouTube to watch small tutorials that talk about the functions of Flutter, its applications and its scope.
These tutorials also explain some of the theoretical terms in detail and are not time-consuming or difficult to understand. They have been made for newbies to develop an understanding of the features of Flutter and teach them how to learn Flutter fast.
One can familiarize themselves with the Flutter UI through these video tutorials so that when you read/learn about it, you have a clear picture in mind.
Buy a good book on Flutter
One of the primary steps you can take when it comes to the question of ‘how to start learning Flutter?’ is to read up about it.
You can purchase a good beginner-level Flutter textbook that helps you build a solid understanding of the logic and theory behind Flutter.
Books are a beneficial purchase because not only do they teach you the topics in great detail, but you can also refer to them in the future for a quick revision in case you forget some of the concepts.
Opt for an online course
The next step in the process of learning Flutter would be to take up an online Flutter course from any noteworthy platform like Udemy, Udacity, Coursera, edX and alike to know about Flutter in-depth and finally apply what you have learned so far in real life through tasks given in the courses.
These courses take time to complete and tend to test your knowledge along the way.
Learn from the source itself
The original Flutter website is a great place to begin learning Flutter. The website has an extremely easy-to-navigate UI and provides a detailed step-by-step guide to learning Flutter beginning from installation to building your first mobile app.
Learning from the official website is one of the best ways to learn Flutter.
Workshops & CodeLabs by Flutter
If you want a guided, practical coding experience in Dart to learn Flutter, then CodeLabs by Flutter will be your perfect option.
These codes run on DartPad (online) and therefore, you wouldn’t even have to spend the effort to install new software. If you have a question regarding ‘how to learn Flutter for beginners?’, don’t worry!
Flutter also provides workshops like the CodeLabs, except they are instructor-led. These CodeLabs and links to the workshops are available on the Flutter website and are extremely beneficial for beginners.
Follow the annexed link where you will find several CodeLabs and Workshops on the official Flutter website.
Install Flutter and practice along
Practicing enough is necessary when you are first learning Flutter. There are several features and elements that you will have to be thorough with if you want to be able to use Flutter like a professional.
The only way to ensure that is to dedicate enough time to practicing Flutter. Install Flutter from the web on your PC and keep playing around with the features while putting your knowledge of Flutter that you have gained through the courses and books to good use.
Practicing is the only answer if you want to know how to learn Flutter fast.
Develop a Flutter-based project
It is crucial to get some practical experience when you begin learning a particular skill.
After making sure you have developed strong basics of Flutter, the best way to learn Flutter and to make sure you have learned it correctly is to create your own Flutter Project from scratch.
Play around with the variety of widgets and themes that Flutter provides to develop something interesting and fun, like a simple Hangman game or a calculator app.
You can later move on to creating better and more elaborate projects like websites and android application designs once you are well-versed with Flutter. Having a good project on your resume also makes it easier for you to get hired.
Show your projects to other learners and professionals
No matter how much you have developed your skills, there is always scope for improvement.
The best way to improve is by showcasing your projects on a common platform like Github so that professionals and like-minded learners can have a look at your project and advice you or learn from you.
There are also several communities of Flutter where professionals share tips and their own projects so that beginners can take inspiration from them and strive to do better.
We hope going through the above-mentioned steps elaborately explained ‘how to learn Flutter for beginners.’
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long will it take to learn Flutter?
Ans: Although it varies highly from person to person, the average time taken by a beginner figuring out how to learn Flutter from scratch is approximately 2 weeks.
If you have a strong Computer-Science background and are really passionate about learning Flutter, you can learn it in about 4 to 5 days. However, the best way to learn Flutter is to take your time understanding and practicing it.
Q. How to learn Flutter fast?
Ans: You need to practice a lot and regularly to learn Flutter and be able to use it like a professional. There is no shortcut to learning Flutter fast.
However, if you are someone who is too pressed for time, then the steps mentioned above will surely help you learn Flutter quickly as well as concretely.
Q. Is Flutter worth learning 2022?
Ans: Flutter is one of the most in-demand skills in the current job market. IT companies hire several Flutter developers to meet their requirements, and they are also highly paid. Therefore, Flutter is absolutely worth learning in 2022.
Q. Can I learn Flutter without Dart?
Ans: Dart is a programming language similar to Java, C# and JavaScript. So, if you have a coding background and know the languages mentioned above, you may consider learning Flutter without learning Dart first.
However, learning Dart before Flutter is highly recommended and is the best way to learn Flutter, especially for beginners with no coding experience.
Q. How difficult is fluttering?
Ans: In comparison to other similar languages like Swift that serve the same purpose as Flutter, Fluttering is much easier to learn and implement.
EndNote
We hope this article has been helpful for you in figuring out how to learn Flutter from scratch.
