Flutter Performance Optimization - Unlock Faster Frames and Happier Users

Optimizing the performance of your Flutter app is crucial for delivering a smooth user experience. Here's a checklist of techniques and best practices to boost the performance of your existing Flutter app:


#1

Use the Latest Flutter Version 🔄:

Ensure you are using the latest stable version of Flutter to take advantage of performance improvements and bug fixes.

Latest flutter version history : Read more

  • Check the latest version: flutter --version
  • Update Flutter: flutter upgrade

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#2

Code Splitting 📦:

Implement code splitting to load only the necessary parts of your app on demand, reducing the initial load time.

for eg:

you will be able to dynamically load either FeatureA or FeatureB based on the button press.

remember, this is a simplified eg, and real-time code splitting in Flutter may involve more sophisticated mechanisms, especially when dealing with larger projects. Also, consider using Flutter's Navigator for more complex navigation scenarios

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#3

Minimize Imports:

🧹 Import only the necessary classes, functions, or modules. Unused code from unnecessary imports cannot be tree-shaken if it's present in your project.


Let's consider an example using the Dio package, a popular HTTP client for Flutter. 

We'll demonstrate how to minimize imports and use only the necessary parts of the Dio package in your Dart code.



// Instead of using a wildcard import:
// import 'package:dio/dio.dart';


// Import only the necessary parts from the Dio package
import 'package:dio/dio.dart' show Dio, Response, RequestOptions;

// Function to perform a simple HTTP GET request using Dio
Future<void> fetchData() async {
  try {
    // Create a Dio instance
    Dio dio = Dio();

    // Specify the request options
    RequestOptions options = RequestOptions(
      method: 'GET',
      baseUrl: 'https://api.example.com',
      path: '/data',
    );

    // Perform the HTTP GET request
    Response response = await dio.request(
      options.path,
      options: options,
    );

    // Handle the response
    if (response.statusCode == 200) {
      print('Data received: ${response.data}');
    } else {
      print('Error: ${response.statusCode}');
    }
  } catch (error) {
    print('Error: $error');
  }
}

void main() {
  fetchData();
}

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#4

Remove Unused Code:

🧼 Regularly review your codebase and remove any functions, classes, or variables that are not being used. Tree shaking works best when there's no dead code.


Analyze Code:

You can use tools like flutter analyze to check for any potential issues, including unused imports, null safety warnings, and other linting issues.

  • flutter analyze


Dart fix 

It attempts to automatically fix certain issues, such as unused imports, formatting, and other linting issues.


For a quick fix without reviewing,

  • dart fix : This command will analyze your code and attempt to automatically fix issues when possible.

If you want to review the changes before applying them
  • dart fix --dry-run : The --dry-run option shows the changes that would be made without actually applying them.

After reviewing, apply the fixes
  • dart fix --apply : If you are satisfied with the changes, you can apply them by running. This command applies the changes suggested by dart fix.

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#5

Use const for Constants:

🧱 When defining constants, use const to ensure that they are treated as compile-time constants. This allows Flutter to optimize their usage during the build process.


// Instead of:
final int myConstant = 42;

// Use:
const int myConstant = 42;
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#6

Update Dependencies:

🔄 Keep your dependencies up to date. Sometimes, newer versions of packages come with optimizations that can contribute to better tree shaking.


  • flutter pub outdated : This command will display a list of dependencies with their current versions and the latest versions available on pub.dev.
  • flutter pub upgrade : After checking for outdated dependencies, you can run the following command to update your dependencies to the latest versions
  • flutter pub get : Review the changes made by the upgrade. Occasionally, breaking changes might occur, and manual adjustments may be needed.
  • flutter pub upgrade <package_name> :  Replace <package_name> with the name of the package you want to update. If you want to update a specific package to its latest version, you can use the following command.


Regularly updating dependencies is essential for accessing new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements. It also helps ensure compatibility with the latest versions of Flutter and Dart.

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#7

ListView and GridView Optimization 📊:

Use ListView.builder and GridView.builder for efficient rendering of large lists.

Implement shrinkWrap and physics properties to optimize scrollable lists.



#8

State Management 🔄:

Choose an efficient state management approach based on the app's complexity (Provider, Riverpod, Bloc, etc.).

Avoid unnecessary rebuilds by updating only the required parts of the UI.



#9

Memory Management 🧠:

Utilize the dispose method for cleaning up resources.


#10

Use Native Code 📱:

Integrate native code (platform channels) for performance-critical tasks. eg : (Android In-app update checker)


#11

Profile and Analyze Performance 📈:

Utilize Flutter DevTools for profiling and analyzing your app's performance.

Identify bottlenecks and optimize accordingly.

  • flutter run --profile : by opening DevTools and viewing the performance overlay


#12

Optimize for Different Screen Sizes 📏:

Test and optimize your app for various screen sizes and resolutions.


#13

Testing and Benchmarking 🧪:

Conduct thorough testing and benchmarking to ensure performance improvements.


#14

Firebase Performance Monitoring 📊:

Integrate Firebase Performance Monitoring to identify and address performance issues in real-time.


#15

Avoid Excessive Plugins 🧩:

Limit the use of unnecessary plugins, as they can introduce overhead and impact performance.



#16

Analyze APK Size 📏:

Regularly analyze the APK size to identify and mitigate unnecessary bloat.



#17

Flutter Performance Overlay 🎭:

Enable the performance overlay during development to visualize the FPS and identify performance bottlenecks.



 // This widget is the root of your application.
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'Flutter Demo',
      showPerformanceOverlay: true,
      theme: ThemeData(
        colorScheme: ColorScheme.fromSeed(seedColor: Colors.deepPurple),
        useMaterial3: true,
      ),
      home: const MyHomePage(title: 'Flutter Demo Home Page'),
    );
  }

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