KMP vs Flutter

You might already have read a lot about this, and the same goes for me. But still, I wanted to summarize what I learned about this thing crisply and concisely.

Please go through this week's newsletter if you still have some confusion about what to choose between Flutter and KMP if you are starting as an Android developer.

In this comparison between Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) and Flutter for cross-platform mobile development, we explore key aspects to consider when choosing between the two frameworks.

Code Sharing:

Both KMP and Flutter enable developers to share code across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, desktop, and web).

KMP uses Kotlin, leveraging its multiplatform capabilities, while Flutter uses Dart.

Programming Language:

KMP utilizes Kotlin, making it seamless for native Android developers to transition.

Flutter employs Dart, which some find reminiscent of Java but lacking Kotlin's syntactic advantages.

Compilation:

KMP compiles shared Kotlin code to platform-specific formats (JVM bytecode for Android, native binaries for iOS).

Flutter compiles to machine code directly, ensuring native performance on each platform.

UI Rendering:

KMP's UI, when using Jetpack Compose Multiplatform, translates Kotlin-based UI code into platform-specific UI components.

Flutter draws its UI on a canvas for consistent appearance across platforms but lacks native component support.

Native API Access:

KMP allows direct interaction with platform-specific APIs, enhancing performance by eliminating intermediary layers.

Flutter utilizes platform channels for communication with native APIs, introducing a slight overhead.

Performance:

Both frameworks produce native performance; however, KMP's direct access to native APIs and closer integration with platform-specific features might offer slight advantages in specific scenarios.

Maturity:

KMP, especially Jetpack Compose Multiplatform, is emerging and not yet as stable as Flutter, which has been extensively used and supported by Google for years.

Future Outlook:

Google's recent support for the Kotlin multiplatform suggests promising growth, yet Flutter's maturity and backing make it a robust choice. KMP's alignment with Jetpack libraries enhances its appeal to Android developers.

Recommendation:

For native Android developers comfortable with Kotlin, KMP offers a straightforward transition into cross-platform development.

Flutter remains a solid choice with broader industry support and maturity.

Conclusion:

For newcomers focused on sharing business logic, Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) offers a stable option. However, for those prioritizing UI sharing, Jetpack Compose Multiplatform's iOS and web capabilities are still in the beta and alpha stages respectively. For a reliable solution with minimal performance concerns in UI sharing, Flutter remains a recommended choice.

I hope this blog helps you. If you disagree with a certain point or want to add something, then you are most welcome in the comments section.