How to hire the perfect Flutter developer for your next project

Let’s say you’re a client who has already decided on which open-source framework you'd like to use for your next project. Now, a new dilemma arises — how to find and then ultimately hire Flutter app developers.

At times, finding that perfect developer can feel like searching for a unicorn. While Flutter has become quite a popular option over the past couple of years, there’s still a shortage of top-tier Flutter developers — those who can make all the difference. 

What is Flutter?

Flutter is Google's innovative open-source UI framework. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if we said that ever since 2017, Flutter has become a real game-changer in mobile app development.

Flutter is able to craft both aesthetically pleasing and high-performance apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. Of course, that’s only one of the reasons why this framework is a developer’s favorite.

And as with any other top-tier framework or library, one thing is for certain: with great power comes great responsibility — the responsibility to hire the right Flutter developer.

Why has Flutter become so popular?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to hire Flutter developers and all the different strategies that revolve around this process, let’s see why Flutter has become and still is one of the top three open-source frameworks out there.

Some of the aspects that make Flutter stand out from the crowd are:

• Cross-platform Development — While this seems like an obvious feature, Flutter does the job much better than the majority of similar frameworks. Its ability to build native-looking apps for iOS and Android using a single codebase is just simply more efficient and that’s why even people who are not really in the realm of mobile app development are still familiar with Flutter as one of Google’s most exciting projects in the past decade.
• Hot Reload — See your code changes reflected in the app in real time, accelerating the development process and making experimentation a breeze. This rapid development cycle is a major advantage for businesses that need to get their app to market quickly.
• Aesthetically pleasing UI — Flutter lets developers create both stunning and visually rich user interfaces with expressive widgets. This translates to a more engaging and user-friendly experience for your app users.
• Declarative UI — Define the UI structure and behavior declaratively. This ultimately leads to cleaner, more maintainable code and it makes it easier to manage complex app features and reduces the risk of errors.
• Rich Ecosystem — Flutter boasts, and we were quite pleasantly surprised by this, a large ecosystem of plugins, libraries, and tools. This extensive ecosystem gives developers the flexibility to tackle even the most challenging projects.

Who can become a Flutter developer?

Anyone with a passion for mobile app development and a solid foundation in programming can potentially become a Flutter developer. Here are the key ingredients:

• Programming Fundamentals — Understanding core programming concepts like variables, data structures, control flow, and object-oriented programming is essential. After all, you want to rely on someone who has experience with different environments and who hasn’t started their developing journey solely with Flutter.
• Dart Programming — Flutter uses Dart, a general-purpose programming language known for its readability and efficiency. Now, before anyone gets into the whole Flutter universe, it’s important to learn Dart as it is simply a must for anyone who wants to excel at being a Flutter developer.
• UI/UX Design — A good grasp of both user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design principles will help developers craft user-friendly apps. Hiring Flutter app developers with a background in UI/UX design is a plus, as they can bridge the gap between design and development.
• Mobile App Development Knowledge — Familiarity with mobile app development concepts and best practices is beneficial. Just like in professional sports — a true professional always has to stay in form. You don’t really expect a top-tier football player to return to form right away after a year-long injury, for example. Staying on the pitch, or in this case, up with the current trends, is key.

How to hire Flutter developers

When hiring a Flutter developer, several key considerations must be taken into account to ensure you find the right fit for your project.

• Location — One of the first things you should do is to determine if you prefer a local developer or if you're open to remote talent — local developers may provide easier communication and collaboration, while, on the other hand, remote developers can offer a broader talent pool. Luckily, there’s tons of talent available online nowadays — both local and remote.
• Project Requirements — Try to clearly define the scope of your project, as understanding whether you need a simple app or a more complex one is quite crucial when it comes to the budget.
• Experience Desired — Decide on the level of experience required. More experienced developers will command higher rates but can deliver complex projects more efficiently. Online hiring platforms like Upwork, for example, offer filter options that let you set a desired level when posting an ad — entry-level option, an experienced developer, or an expert in the field.
• Timezone — Ever since 2020 and the rise of the popularity of remote work, taking time zones into consideration when working with people abroad has become essential. Naturally, a developer in a similar time zone can facilitate real-time communication and quicker problem resolution.
• Budget and Timeline — Establish your budget and project timeline, as these factors will influence whether you can afford top-tier developers or need to consider more cost-effective options.

Hiring Flutter app developers - in-house vs. outsourcing

Let’s take a look at a comparison and all the pros and cons that revolve around going for a local option compared to outsourcing your work to remote developers all over the world.

In-house hiring

Pros:

• Easier communication and collaboration.
• Better integration with your existing team and company culture.
• Direct control over the development process.

Cons:

• Higher costs due to salaries, benefits, and office space.
• Longer recruitment process.
• Limited talent pool restricted to your geographical location.

Outsourcing

Pros:

• Access to a global talent pool.
• Cost-effective, as you can find developers at competitive rates.
• Flexibility in scaling the team up or down based on project needs.

Cons:

• Potential communication barriers due to time zone differences and language.
• Less control over the development process.
• Possible challenges in aligning the outsourced team's work culture with your own.

Skills to look for in a Flutter developer

Different people offer different skill sets. It’s the same with developers. Some of the most vital skills you should look for in a Flutter developer are:

Technical skills

• Proficiency in Dart programming language.
• Strong understanding of Flutter as a framework and its components.
• Experience with mobile development for both iOS and Android.
• Familiarity with RESTful APIs and third-party libraries.
• Knowledge of version control systems like Git.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines.

Soft skills

• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Adaptability to new tools and technologies.

A Flutter developer is responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining mobile applications using the Flutter framework.
• Writing clean, maintainable, and efficient code.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define, design, and ship new features.
• Troubleshooting and debugging to optimize performance.
• Participating in code reviews and providing constructive feedback.
• Staying updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to ensure the app remains competitive.

Top Flutter interview questions

As we mentioned in the intro, if you’re a client looking for one or several Flutter developers to join your team, it’s quite important to know what the top Flutter interview questions are. Below we’ll present some examples of potential interview questions one can expect when applying for a Flutter development position. 
Where are dependencies declared?

dependencies are declared in the pubspec.yaml file, which is located at the root of your Flutter project. This file is used to manage the project's dependencies, assets, and other metadata.

How many kinds of widgets exist? Describe each, when to use each.

Stateless Widgets

• Description: Stateless widgets are immutable and do not hold any state. They only depend on the configuration information they receive at creation time.
• Examples: Text, Icon, Container.

Stateful Widgets

Description: Stateful widgets are mutable and maintain state that may change over the lifetime of the widget. They implement two classes: a StatefulWidget and a State class.

Examples: Checkbox, TextField, Form.

What is primary/cross axis for a Row/Column?

Row

• Primary Axis: Horizontal
  • Children are arranged left to right.
• Cross Axis: Vertical
  • Children can be aligned top to bottom.

Column

• Primary Axis: Vertical
  • Children are arranged top to bottom.
• Cross Axis: Horizontal
  • Children can be aligned left to right.

These axes define the direction of child placement and alignment within Row and Column widgets in Flutter.

How would you optimize the performance of an app?

Efficient State Management

• Choose Proper Solutions: Use Provider, Riverpod, Bloc, etc.
• Minimize Rebuilds: Utilize const widgets.

Optimize Build Methods

• Simplify Build Methods: Keep them simple and move heavy computations elsewhere.
• Conditional Builds: Build widgets only when necessary.

Use Widgets Wisely

• Use RepaintBoundary: Isolate complex widgets to reduce repaint impact.
• Avoid Nested Scrolling: Use a single scrollable parent.

Lazy Loading

Use ListView.builder: For large lists, to load items on demand.

What is a mixin? What is it used for?

A mixin is a way to reuse a class's code in multiple class hierarchies in Dart. Mixins allow you to combine the behavior of multiple classes without needing to inherit from them directly. This enables a form of multiple inheritance, which is not supported directly in Dart through traditional class inheritance.

Characteristics of Mixins

Code Reuse:

1. Mixins allow for the reuse of methods and properties across different classes without being part of a strict class hierarchy.

Multiple Mixins:

1. A class can use multiple mixins, allowing it to inherit behaviors from multiple sources.

No State:

1. Mixins typically do not have their own instance variables (state). They are used to add behavior (methods) to classes.

6. What is await and async? How to use it?

In Dart, async and await are used to handle asynchronous operations, making it easier to work with futures and asynchronous code without blocking the execution of the program.

async

• Purpose: The async keyword is used to mark a function as asynchronous. This allows the function to perform asynchronous operations using the await keyword and return a Future.
• Usage: Place async after the function signature.

await

Purpose: The await keyword is used to pause the execution of an async function until the future completes. It can only be used within an async function.

Usage: Place await before a future to wait for its completion and get the result.

7. How do you add assets?

Organize Assets

Create an assets directory in your project.

Store your files (e.g., images, JSON) in this directory.

Declare Assets in pubspec.yaml

Open pubspec.yaml.

Add the assets under the flutter section.

8. How do you make a widget tap-able?

In Flutter, to make a widget tappable, you typically wrap it with a GestureDetector or an InkWell widget. Both widgets detect gestures, such as taps, and allow you to execute code when the widget is tapped.

9. What is a Sliver?

A sliver is a portion of a scrollable area that you can use to achieve custom scrolling effects. Slivers are used to create complex scrolling layouts in Flutter by combining different sliver widgets. They are part of the CustomScrollView widget, which provides a flexible and efficient way to implement custom scrolling behavior.

Key Features of Slivers

Custom Scrolling: Slivers allow for the creation of highly customizable scrolling effects, such as elastic scrolling, pinned headers, and more.

Efficiency: They optimize rendering by only building visible items, which improves performance in large scrollable areas.

Flexibility: Slivers can be combined to create various scrolling patterns, such as lists, grids, and other custom layouts.

10. What is hot reload?

Hot Reload is a feature in Flutter that allows developers to quickly see the results of their code changes without restarting the entire application.

FAQs

How much does it cost to hire Flutter app developers?

The cost to hire a Flutter developer varies based on experience, location, and project complexity. The cost can range from $15,000 to $200,000, according to the project's scope. Contact us for a more detailed quote that fits your project requirements.

How much do qualified Flutter developers make?

Qualified Flutter developers can expect to earn competitive salaries, with variations depending on their expertise and location. To be more exact, some sources state that the average salary for a Flutter developer in the United States ranges from $80,000 to $120,000 per year.

Where to find skilled Flutter developers

You can find skilled Flutter developers through professional networks, freelance platforms, and, of course, by partnering with Tapptitude, where we have a team of experienced and talented developers ready to bring your app idea to life.

Build your next Flutter app with Tapptitude

At Tapptitude, we pride ourselves on being a top-rated mobile app development company on Clutch, renowned for delivering high-quality mobile app development services. Our team of experts specializes in creating innovative and efficient mobile applications tailored to your needs.