Although Flutter is a relatively new framework, it’s gaining traction fast, and the demand for Flutter app developers is on the rise.

According to Statista, Flutter managed to attract a significant share of developers (30%) within only 2 years of its introduction in 2017. Its share grew further by another 9% in 2020, more than any other framework, including React Native, which had the largest overall share in both years.

Flutter's share of developers in 2019 & 2020

Despite Flutter’s growing popularity, it can be tricky finding developers who specialize in it, and this can be detrimental to your project’s success. With this in mind, let’s explore some basics of Flutter, along with our tips for hiring the right Flutter developer for your project.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is an open-source Software Development Kit (SDK) developed by Google in 2017. It’s used to create web apps and desktop apps for Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Google Fuchsia, to name a few. It allows you to develop native apps with a single codebase. Flutter uses a single codebase and a single programming language, and you can use it to create apps for both iOS and Android. It is popular due to its quick development process, expressive UI, compatibility, and outstanding performance. Xianyu is one such app developed by the Alibaba team using Flutter. It now has over 50 million users worldwide. 

Flutter consists of two essential components, the SDK and the Framework. A software development kit is a collection of tools that compiles the code into native machine code, for instance, code for Android and iOS. Next, a Framework is a widget-based UI library. It is a collection of reusable elements such as sliders, text input, buttons, and many more that can be personalized according to your unique app needs.

Now with the basics of Flutter out of the way, let’s get into the 8 tips you need to know before hiring a Flutter App Developer.

8 Tips for Hiring a Flutter App Developer

1. Conduct Extensive Research on Relevant Technology:

It makes sense to have some technology-related knowledge before you go looking for a tech expert. If you are unfamiliar with the relevant technology (Flutter in this instance) then you might not be able to properly assess their capabilities or convey your requirements with precision. Moreover, you may even end up spending more than you should if you are unaware of market trends.

Therefore, make sure to do your homework about the ins-and-outs of the Flutter development process, market trends, company rates, development times, etc.

2. Examine the Development Firm’s Portfolio:

A portfolio is a great way to examine your development team’s expertise and should prove vital for your research. You could either find the development company’s portfolio either on their website or you can request one by contacting them directly. 

This will give you an insight into your target development firm in terms of their services, technologies they work on, types of engagement models they provide, their overall development process, technological experience, previous apps developed, to name a view. 

Note that outsourcing a team should never be done in a hurry. If your target firm has a separate portfolio for Flutter App Development, then this will really help inform your decision.

Additionally, it is recommended that you check out any app they’ve developed using Flutter. You can check for bugs and apps’ functionality to check if the team is apt for your project or not.

3. Explore the Web for Flutter Developers:

As you already know, the Internet is great for researching just about everything. You can use it to find popular Flutter developers near you. Explore each firm’s website to learn more about their rates and development process.

Furthermore, you can use the web to help you decide if you should go with a freelancer, part-time developer, or a full-time development team. More on this in just a bit!

4. Check for Flutter-related Skills:

A Flutter developer must have an understanding of Agile development along with knowing its importance. Moreover, they must be experts in code optimization and writing well-documented code. 

Flutter uses its custom programming language known as Dart. Thus, a Flutter developer must specialize in Dart, have experience in iOS and Android development, and should have experience with a content tracker like Git.

5. Discuss Budgeting:

Some firms offer various engagement models such as fixed cost, time and material, and revenue sharing. These models facilitate various clients. You should choose a model that suits you and plan accordingly. 

The fixed cost model is for short-term projects with no deviation while the time and material model is recommended for long-term projects with unclear work scope. Lastly, revenue sharing entails your development firm only paying half the development cost in return for half the ownership. 

You should never prioritize price over quality. Understand your project requirements and then come to a conclusion about which engagement model suits your app development needs.

6. Evaluate Customer Service:

Long-term relationships are essential between you and your development team since the development process doesn’t end after your app releases. App development is a continuous cycle that requires you to be in touch with your development team whether it is for bug fixing or regular app updates among other things. 

While hiring a Flutter development team you should have an honest discussion with your team about after-release support. Your development team should provide Quality Assurance, deployment for the App Store and/or Google Play Store, along with additional support.

Furthermore, your ideal team should guide you in terms of your app’s functionality, latest app trends, best solutions, UX, UI, graphics, colors, coding, design, and much more. 

7. Read Client Reviews:

Analyzing a client’s reviews is a pro tip that assures you of a development team’s overall performance and work quality. Most client reviews are available on a firm’s website, but can also be found on their social media. 

You should thoroughly read these reviews and even contact their past clients if possible. Additionally, use evaluation websites like Clutch or GoodFirms to hunt for references. This might seem like a tedious task but it is worth it.

8. Assess their Ability to Work Remotely:

If you decide to hire an off-shore firm, then communication is key. You should contact your potential team via phone, email, chat, along with scheduling an introductory meeting. 

This will help you assess if your development team can effectively communicate through online tools and collaborate remotely. Additionally, ensure that time zones and language barriers will not become major obstacles for your project down the road.

Where Can You Find a Developer?

Now you might be wondering where you can find a developer? There are various types of developers, including freelancers, part-time contractors, and full-time development teams.

Freelancers:

Freelancers can be sourced through platforms like Upwork and Freelancer. This is recommended for small app development projects that do not need a proper team of testers, designers, and developers. 

Part-time Contractors:

You can find part-time contractors on platforms like Remote.com. This platform allows you to hire developers from around the globe. Just like freelancers, part-time developers do not provide maintenance and support services. Not only that, with freelancers you may have confidentiality issues if you do not sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). 

Full-time Development Team :

An ideal full-time development team has extensive development experience, provides maintenance and support. Also, you get end-to-end services such as business analysis, consultation services, deployment, testing, app launch, and so on. Not only that, but they also deliver clear project deadlines.

App Wow Zap is a leading mobile and web app development company that can provide you a dedicated app development team. Not only is our team well-versed in Flutter app development, but we also offer you additional services like post-launch support, marketing, quality assurance, and much more.

To learn more about our app development process, book a FREE Consultation today. 

Final Verdict: 

Outsourcing a development team might seem daunting as it requires extensive research and planning. However, by following these 8 pro tips we just shared, you should find your dream Flutter development team in no time.

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