Flutter or KMM

Planning and Design
Our team began with a crystal-clear understanding of the business requirements and then designed a blueprint. They identified parts of the application that would share common business logic and those that would be platform-specific.

Implementation of common business logic
KMM enabled our team to write the common business logic in Kotlin. This part included exciting tasks such as managing user data, bank account operations, transactions, investments, and more.

Implementing platform-specific logic
Here, we got down to designing the user interface and other platform-specific features like push notifications, using native languages and tools for iOS and Android.

Testing and Improvement
We’re not ones to brag, but our testing was as comprehensive as a three-course meal. This included unit, integration, and functional testing.

Deployment and Support
Once we put the app through the wringer and it came out smiling, it was deployed on both platforms. The best part? It’s been regularly updated and improved.

While Flutter excels at fast prototyping and swiftly creating user interfaces with a single codebase, KMM stole the spotlight for a few solid reasons:

• Native Performance: KMM delivers native performance, essential for FinTech apps that need to be faster than a cat video going viral.
• Kotlin: Our team had already bonded with Kotlin, which eased any learning curve for KMM. Additionally, Kotlin is generally seen as more fashionable than Dart, Flutter’s language of choice.
• Integration with existing systems: Financial apps have no room for drama, and KMM made the integration process with existing systems as smooth as a Sinatra song.
• Native integration with device APIs: KMM better cooperates with native device APIs, providing us an advantage with every platform.
• Multi-threading support: KMM has a robust support system for multi-threading— a big plus for high-load apps like ours.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Flutter may still be the better match for different types of projects, especially those that need quick prototyping, have less complex performance requirements, or have teams that can converse in Dart better than in Kotlin.

While developing the app, we also turned a keen eye on features that needed a native touch – the camera, widgets, or Bluetooth.

If your app needs a camera for functions like document or QR code scanning, KMM gets two thumbs up.

Native Camera API Integration: KMM gets VIP access to native camera APIs on each platform. This means it can get creative with the camera’s features like different shooting modes, focus control, white balance, etc. In contrast, Flutter depends on third-party packages to support the camera, which may not always deliver the full range of features or keep up with the latest API updates.

Better Performance: With native access to the camera API, KMM can outperform Flutter when it comes to tasks such as image processing and analysis.

Better UI Control: KMM grants developers full control over the camera UI, allowing them to tailor it to the specific app requirements while maintaining a native look on any platform.

Home screen widgets are the charm of mobile apps, offering users quick access to key info and features without opening the app. In this area, KMM trumps Flutter:

Native widget support: KMM speaks the native languages and tools for iOS and Android, guaranteeing full usage of native widget APIs. In contrast, Flutter lacks this native support and relies on libraries that may not always comply with iOS and Android UI guidelines.

Updates and maintenance:With KMM, refreshing your widgets with the latest OS updates is effortless. But with Flutter, you’re at the mercy of the library developers to keep pace with the latest changes, which can introduce issues.

Application integration:KMM integrates widgets with the rest of the app effortlessly, thanks to the shared code and tools. Conversely, Flutter may encounter difficulties because widgets need a different toolkit before integration with the rest of the app.

Bluetooth is essential for many mobile apps, enabling smooth interactions with devices like headsets and smartwatches. Here’s why KMM takes the trophy in this round too:

Native Bluetooth API Support: KMM enjoys premium access to native Bluetooth APIs on each platform, allowing developers to fully exploit Bluetooth functionalities. On the other hand, Flutter relies on libraries that may lack the full suite of features and might experience stability or security issues.