Why Use Flutter For Embedded Systems?

Quick Summary:

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Dart-based cross-platform framework Flutter has gained considerable significance in recent years. Though not mature or old enough for the market, Flutter is now expanding beyond mobile apps into embedded systems, making it easy to create powerful, cross-platform apps for devices in fields like automotive and smart technology. Leading companies like Toyota and BMW use Flutter for Embedded, which shows how this framework can simplify building high-quality embedded solutions with one codebase.

What are Embedded Systems?

Embedded Systems, as the name suggests, are a combination of software and hardware working collectively to perform a specific task that can exist independently or be a part of a more extensive system involving a microprocessor or a microcontroller-based system. The embedded systems also have an integrated circuit designed to carry out computation for real-time operations.

They can also possess a few complexities ranging from a single microcontroller to a suite of processors with connected peripherals and networks, from a no-user interface to complex GUIs. However, the complexity is proportional to the complexity of the task for which it is designed. Presently, around 98% of all microprocessors are used in embedded systems.

Why Use Flutter Embedded Systems?

Flutter has seen a significant upsurge in demand for Embedded Systems. However, the market is still wondering if Flutter is ideal for meeting business requirements and needs. Well! The answer to this dilemma lies in Flutter’s characteristics. One characteristic that gives it the front row is cross-platform development, which allows using a single codebase on multiple platforms, saving both time and money.

Now that we are familiar with the features of Flutter Embedded Systems. Let us look at why Flutter for Embedded Systems is feasible:

Unified UI and Codebase

Flutter allows developers to create a single codebase for mobile and embedded platforms, significantly reducing development time and ensuring consistent user experiences across devices.

High-Performance Graphics

Built on the Skia graphics engine, Flutter delivers high-performance visuals and can render smooth animations. This is crucial for embedded systems with displays, especially in industries like automotive and IoT, where responsive UIs are essential.

Efficient Development with Hot Reload

Flutter’s hot reload feature allows developers to see changes instantly, speeding up the development and debugging process. This is particularly useful in embedded systems, where testing and iteration can be complex and time-consuming.

Customizable Widgets

Flutter offers a vast library of customizable widgets that can adapt to various screen sizes and resolutions, making it versatile for embedded systems with unique screen requirements or interaction models.

Open-Source and Community Support

As an open-source framework, Flutter is backed by an active community and continuous improvements from Google. It provides resources and plugins that simplify development for embedded devices.

Cost-Effective for Multi-Platform Projects

With Flutter, organizations can avoid hiring platform-specific developers, reducing costs and ensuring a unified codebase that simplifies maintenance and future platform updates.

Growing Support for Embedded Development

Google has shown interest in expanding Flutter’s applicability to more embedded and hardware-oriented use cases. This support could bring more optimized libraries and functionalities specific to embedded systems, making it a forward-looking choice.

Why Did Toyota Choose Flutter Embedded?

Toyota, as we know, is a company that values its customers. Therefore, they work hard to improve their driving experience by the time the on-screen infotainment systems are on the dash. Toyota works on their in-vehicle technology themselves, which is more of a reason they were fascinated by Flutter and were excited about how Flutter could contribute to enhancing their customers’ User Experience.

The excitement level for Toyota took its surge with Flutter supporting embedded devices whereby Toyota presented for a partnership with Flutter. The customers of Toyota are equally connected with the company. They expect the same level of performance in their infotainment systems, with enhanced experience in driving and an on-screen experience that can match the look and feel of Toyota.

The team at Toyota got more conviction in choosing Flutter with its high-performing rendering engine and AOT compilation, which helped the team to build a premium look and feel more like a smartphone app than a traditional embedded system. Let us look at the other aspects leading TOYOTA to choose Flutter:

Outstanding Performance with Toyota’s Reliability and Consistency

To match the overall quality of Toyota automobiles, Toyota customers want a dependable and high-performance in-vehicle user experience. Flutter’s rendering engine performs well in a limited setting, and capabilities like AOT compilation offer us the consistency we need in in-vehicle technology.

Touch Mechanics on Par with Smartphones

In technology within the car. Toyota’s team can deliver an in-car user experience on par with what customers have come to anticipate from their smartphones, thanks to Flutter. Everyone may recall a negative touchscreen app interaction that wasn’t related to their mobile phone. These applications frequently feel like they need to be more comfortable. Using Flutter’s cross-platform mechanics, what Toyota is doing with it directly tackles that issue. Flutter has done a terrific job packing touch mechanics, so they always seem natural.

Ergonomics for Developers

Flutter’s development experience persuaded them after learning about its performance characteristics. They use all the multi-platform technologies Flutter offers for the pipeline, from design to release, despite publishing their apps on a single target platform. Desktop support combined with hot reload offers a quick development approach, even as an alpha feature. Flutter’s support for a wide range of release targets, including tablets running iOS and Android, makes it possible to conduct both physical and virtual user testing. To better their feedback process with product designers, they can use web support to integrate into design tools.

Quicker Iteration in Response to Customer Input

The Toyota team’s ultimate goal in utilizing Flutter is accelerating the development of in-vehicle software, improving customer experience. Thanks to technology that offers great productivity and a low entry barrier, they can develop a more tightly-knit overall feedback loop in their design and engineering processes. They can gather and incorporate client feedback earlier and more frequently thanks to these quicker iteration cycles, which aids Toyota in giving its customers the greatest possible experience.

BMW Also Chose Flutter

BMW, the renowned automotive brand, has trusted Flutter and introduced a key interface between a smartphone and a vehicle. They introduced it in many countries and planned to present it in many other countries. However, a scalable and universal software architecture drives the rapid expansion of the My BMW app’s content and its rapid rollout.

BMW carried out the whole development process in-house with Flutter, which collectively allowed a better User-experience and access to additional features worldwide. The app involved Amazon Alexa integration in BMWs having 7.0 Operating Systems and with Voice Service for BMWs with 5.0 or 6.0 Operating Systems.

How To Run A Flutter Application On Different Devices?

Flutter’s efficacy in cross-platform application development makes running your Flutter application on different devices and platforms easy. Let us take a look at the process of doing it.

Running on Android Emulator

Step-1 Set up an Android Emulator

• Open Android Studio.
• Go to AVD Manager (Tools > AVD Manager) and create a virtual device.
• Select the device and OS version you want.

Step-2 Start the Emulator

• Launch the emulator through Android Studio or by running flutter emulators –launch < emulator_id > in the terminal.

Step-3 Run the App

• In your project directory, use flutter run to launch the app on the emulator, or select the emulator in your IDE (VS Code or Android Studio) and click Run.

Running on a Physical Android Device

Step-1 Enable Developer Mode

• Go to Settings > About phone and tap the Build number 7 times to enable developer mode.

Step-2 Enable USB Debugging

• In the Developer options, enable USB Debugging.

Step-3 Connect to Your Computer

• Connect the device via USB and allow debugging permissions if prompted.

Step-4 Run the App

• Use flutter devices to check if your device is recognized.
• Run flutter run to launch the app on the connected device.

Running on an iOS Simulator (macOS only)

Step-1 Open the iOS Simulator

• Run open -a Simulator from the terminal, or open it from Xcode (Xcode > Open Developer Tool > Simulator).

Step-2 Run the App

• In your project directory, use flutter run to start the app on the iOS simulator.
• Alternatively, select the simulator in your IDE and click Run

Running on a Physical iOS Device (macOS only)

Step-1 Set up the iOS Device

• Connect your device to the Mac.
• Open Xcode, go to Preferences > Accounts and sign in with your Apple ID.
• Under Devices and Simulators, add your device.

Step-2 Trust the Developer

• Go to Settings > General > Device Management on the device and trust your developer account.

Step-3 Run the App

• Use flutter run to start the app on your device, or select the device in your IDE.

Running on a Web Browser

Step-1 Enable Web Support

• Run flutter config –enable-web to enable Flutter’s web support.

Step-2 Choose a Web Device

• Use flutter devices to list available devices, including the web browser.

Step-3 Run the App

• Use flutter run -d chrome to run the app in a Chrome browser.

Running on Desktop (Windows, macOS, or Linux)

Step-1 Enable Desktop Support

• Run flutter config –enable-windows-desktop, flutter config –enable-macos-desktop, or flutter config –enable-linux-desktop as appropriate.

Step-2 Run the App

• To launch on the desktop, use flutter run or flutter run -d windows (or macOS, Linux).

How Does The Flutter Application Communicate With The UI, Especially In Embedded Environments?

In embedded environments, Flutter applications can communicate with the underlying UI or native layer through platform channels, which provide a bridge between Dart and native code (e.g., C++, Java, Kotlin, Swift). Here’s an overview of how it works:

Platform Channels

• Flutter uses platform channels to enable communication between Dart and native code.
• These channels allow the Flutter application to send messages to the platform (host), which can then communicate with system-specific APIs, such as camera, Bluetooth, or other device sensors.
• The communication is bi-directional, so native code can also trigger Dart methods, enabling real-time updates in the UI.

Method Channels

• A type of platform channel that allows invoking methods between Flutter and native code.
• For instance, Flutter can call methods in embedded C++ code or a platform-specific API (like Android or iOS APIs), and the native layer can send the results back to Flutter.
• This is essential for embedded devices, where low-level control is required to interact directly with the hardware.

Event Channels

• These channels are useful for receiving data streams, which can be continuously sent from native code to Flutter.
• For example, an embedded environment might stream sensor data (e.g., accelerometer readings) to the Flutter UI, where it’s displayed or processed in real-time.

Pigeon for Code Generation

• Flutter offers the Pigeon tool for more complex integrations, which generates type-safe code for inter-language communication.
• Pigeon can be especially helpful in embedded systems where defining strict data types and ensuring low-latency communication is critical.

Embedding APIs

• Flutter provides embedding APIs for custom embedder implementations, enabling the UI to connect directly to hardware peripherals or handle specific device resources.
• With custom embedder code, Flutter applications can operate efficiently in resource-constrained environments while managing device-specific UI requirements.

Platform Views (if applicable)

• In environments that support it, Flutter allows native views to be embedded directly into the Flutter widget tree.
• This enables seamless integration of native controls (e.g., native video players, map views) alongside Flutter UI elements, which can be beneficial when working in specialized embedded systems with hybrid UIs.

These mechanisms provide a flexible and efficient way for Flutter applications to communicate with the underlying system and UI in embedded environments, supporting smooth real-time interactions, hardware control, and streamlined data exchange.

Alternatives to Flutter for Embedded

Flutter has limited experience in the Embedded Systems segment and must be more mature than other options. Below are a few practical alternatives to Flutter for Embedded Systems and a basic circumferential comparison between them and Flutter.

Qt (Qt for Embedded)

Qt offers a C++-based framework with OpenGL and hardware acceleration for high-performance UIs on embedded systems. It supports real-time applications and includes Qt Creator, which provides a robust environment for testing and debugging, making it ideal for complex embedded displays with real-time graphics.

Qt’s lower-level C++ optimizations and real-time system capabilities suit deeply embedded systems better than Flutter’s Dart-based approach. Flutter’s Skia engine enables complex UIs but is less efficient for constrained hardware, where Qt’s direct-to-hardware approach excels.

React Native (with C++ Integration)

React Native allows JavaScript-driven UI with C++ integration to handle performance-intensive processes. This hybrid setup enables versatile interfaces while maintaining responsive updates, which is ideal for systems needing web flexibility and embedded-level control for specific functions.

React Native is more flexible for hybrid setups, offering JavaScript’s adaptability and C++ power for embedded tasks. Flutter’s reactive UI engine and single codebase are powerful, but it lacks React Native’s ease of integrating with native C++ modules for resource optimization.

Electron (with Raspberry Pi Support)

Electron runs web-based UIs using Node.js and Chromium, making it suited for apps with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, especially in kiosk or dashboard configurations. Though resource-heavy, it’s highly modular, allowing for broad customization and use in devices like Raspberry Pi for web-based interfaces.

Electron’s dependency on Chromium demands more resources than Flutter’s Skia, which natively renders graphics. Flutter’s framework is more efficient for high-performance, interactive UIs, while Electron’s flexibility makes it a strong option for embedded web-driven applications.

Tizen .NET

Tizen .NET uses .NET Core and Xamarin.Forms enable a wide range of embedded applications tailored to Samsung’s ecosystem. It allows for native sensor access, touch support, and Xamarin-based UI, providing high performance on Tizen OS devices, such as smartwatches and IoT applications.

Tizen .NET supports deeper hardware integration on Samsung devices, giving direct access to specific APIs that Flutter lacks. Flutter’s focus on a broad range of platforms means less optimization for device-specific features, whereas Tizen .NET offers more robust integration.

Embedded Wizard

Embedded Wizard compiles code directly to C, optimizing for low-power and low-memory devices. It supports ARM microcontrollers, advanced UI components, and animations. Its efficient memory footprint makes it suitable for high-reliability applications like automotive and industrial controls.

Embedded Wizard’s resource optimization for microcontrollers far surpasses Flutter’s requirements, which are too high for constrained systems. Flutter excels in complex UIs, but Embedded Wizard’s C-based, low-level control is unmatched in low-resource settings.

LittlevGL (LVGL)

LVGL is a C-based graphics library optimized for microcontrollers with minimal memory. It supports UI components, touch input, and smooth animations while offering a highly modular structure, allowing developers to manage resources tightly. This makes it ideal for IoT devices and simple displays.

LVGL’s low-memory footprint suits microcontrollers, whereas Flutter’s Skia engine is too resource-intensive. LVGL is limited to simpler UIs, while Flutter is better for high-performance, complex interfaces but needs significantly more memory and processing power.

Chromium Kiosk Mode

Chromium Kiosk Mode provides full-screen web interfaces using HTML/CSS/JavaScript on devices like Raspberry Pi. This mode supports touch and basic interactivity and is highly effective for simple, web-based dashboards or information kiosks in embedded setups.

Chromium’s reliance on web technologies makes it less efficient than Flutter’s compiled native code and Skia graphics. Flutter’s rendering engine offers better performance for interactive UIs, while Chromium Kiosk is ideal for web-focused, static, or dashboard UIs.

The Future of Flutter Embedded Systems

Flutter was initially exclusively available for Android and iOS. Subsequently, the Flutter team added support for desktop operating systems like macOS, Windows, and Linux. Even the ability to create web applications was included. This demonstrates that they will continue to support many streams in the future. Google will announce its commitment to the Flutter platform for many years with the release of Flutter 4.0 soon.

The number of target platforms available for Flutter development keeps growing at the same rate as the technology’s capabilities and productivity. For the foreseeable future, Flutter will be a technology to use when developing applications, regardless of the platform, the app you are making or the target market you intend to target.

According to the official documentation, they don’t support custom engine embedders since they can’t fix the flaws indicated on their sites. Updates for the engine embedder will be slower than for versions of flutter and dart due to a costly maintenance burden on the flutter team.

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Flutter for Embedded Systems?

Flutter for Embedded Systems extends Flutter’s capabilities to develop user interfaces for hardware devices beyond mobile apps, allowing seamless, visually rich experiences on infotainment systems, IoT devices, and other embedded platforms.

What are the benefits of using Flutter for Embedded Systems?

Flutter offers a fast, cross-platform development experience with a single codebase, reducing development time and costs. It enables responsive, visually consistent UIs across mobile, web, and embedded devices, making it an attractive option for diverse platforms.

Can Flutter run on low-power or low-resource devices?

Yes, though it depends on the hardware. Flutter is lightweight, but its performance on embedded devices will rely on the CPU, GPU, and memory capabilities. It generally performs best on devices with moderate to high processing power.

What are some potential use cases for Flutter in embedded systems?

Flutter is ideal for building infotainment systems, smart home interfaces, digital dashboards, and interactive control panels—applications where rich visuals and performance are essential.

Can Flutter integrate with hardware APIs in embedded systems?

Yes, Flutter can interface with platform-specific APIs using platform channels, allowing communication with native code. This flexibility enables integration with hardware components and operating system-specific features as needed.