What’s New in Flutter 3.16?

Today we were going to discuss the Flutter new stable version which is 3.16 which was released mid of November 2023. In this new version, a lot of changes have been made by the Flutter team which we discussed point-wise

Changes in Flutter 3.16

1. By Default, Use Material 3
2. Add, Option in Edit Menu
3. Selection Area Updates
4. Changes In Focus Manager
5. Automatic Reorder Menu Item For iOS
6. Matric Transition Animation
7. Paint Pattern Added to Flutter Test
8. Scrolling Updates
9. Engine Changes for Android
10. Flutter Game Toolkit
11. Mouse Scroll Wheel Support
12. Predictive Back Navigation
13. iOS App Extension
14. Cloud-Based Google Map Styling
15. macOS Video Player Plugin

In these, they do a lot of changes which should you know if you are a flutter developer, now we are going to elaborate on these briefly.

1. Default Use of Material 3

• Flutter 3.16 now defaults to using Material 3 design principles.
• This update brings a modernized and cohesive visual language to Flutter applications.
• Developers can leverage the latest Material 3 components and guidelines for a consistent UI.

This is coming by default means when we create our first app the use material 3 comes true but we can do it true or false, if we do true then we can the material 3 colour which is not totally blue but when we make if false then we can see the previous colour which is totally blue,

useMaterial3: false, useMaterial3: true

2. Additional Options in Edit Menu

• The Edit menu gets a boost with additional options for enhanced user interactions.
• New functionalities streamline user editing experiences, making it more intuitive.
• Developers can explore and implement these options to improve the overall usability of their applications.

3. Selection Area Updates

• Flutter 3.16 introduces updates to the selection area for improved handling.
• Enhanced visuals and behaviour contribute to a more user-friendly selection experience.
• Developers can expect a smoother selection process in their Flutter applications.
  • Single click: Sets the collapsed selection at the clicked position.
  • Double click: Select the word at the clicked position.
  • Double click + drag: Extends the selection in word blocks.
  • Long press + drag: Extends the selection in word blocks.

4. Changes in Focus Manager

• Significant changes in the Focus Manager improve the handling of focus within Flutter apps.
• Developers can benefit from more granular control and customization of focus behavior.
• This update addresses focus-related issues and provides a more robust focus management system.

5. Automatic Reorder Menu Item for iOS

• iOS applications see an automatic reorder menu item feature in Flutter 3.16.
• Users experience a more dynamic and responsive menu organization.
• Developers can take advantage of this enhancement to create more adaptive and user-friendly iOS apps.

6. Matrix Transition Animation

• Introducing matrix transition animation for smoother and more visually appealing transitions.
• Developers can apply matrix transitions to create engaging animations between different states.
• This feature adds a layer of sophistication to Flutter app animations.

7. Paint Pattern Added to Flutter Test

• Flutter Test now supports paint patterns, expanding testing capabilities.
• Developers can utilize paint patterns to simulate various scenarios for comprehensive testing.
• This addition enhances the robustness of testing workflows in Flutter applications.

8. Scrolling Updates

• Flutter 3.16 brings significant updates to scrolling mechanisms.
• Improved performance and smoother scrolling experiences for end-users.
• Developers can fine-tune scrolling behaviour for different app scenarios with the updated options.
• We can by own by writing the lot of code or we can simply use the package which is two_dimensional_scrollables. This package available on pub.dev so you can use if form there.

9. Engine Changes for Android

• Under-the-hood engine changes for Android enhance performance and stability.
• Flutter apps running on Android benefit from optimized rendering and resource utilization.
• Developers can expect better overall responsiveness and efficiency on Android devices.

For incrementing the performance flutter add impeller engine for android to better user experiences, we can enable this by two lines of code by writing this code in our android app manifest file. Code is given below.

<meta-data

android:name=”io.flutter.embedding.android.EnableImpeller”

android:value=”true” />

10. Flutter Game Toolkit

• The introduction of the Flutter Game Toolkit opens new avenues for game development.
• Developers can leverage specialized tools and components for creating immersive and performant games.
• This toolkit enriches Flutter’s capabilities in the gaming domain.\
• We can by own by writing the lot of code or we can simply use the package which is Casual Games Toolkit. This package available on pub.dev so you can use if form there.
• If we are using this package then flutter provide us many games template like rummy and many other games and by using the package, we can save a lot of time.

11. Mouse Scroll Wheel Support

• Flutter 3.16 now includes support for mouse scroll wheels.
• Users can interact with Flutter applications using standard mouse scrolling gestures.
• Developers can enhance the user experience by incorporating mouse scroll wheel support in their apps.

12. Predictive Back Navigation

• Predictive back navigation improves the navigation flow within Flutter apps.
• Users experience smarter and more intuitive back navigation behaviour.
• Developers can ensure a seamless user journey with this predictive navigation enhancement.

13. iOS App Extension

• Flutter 3.16 introduces support for iOS app extensions.
• Developers can extend the functionality of their Flutter apps with iOS app extensions.
• This opens possibilities for creating more integrated and feature-rich iOS applications.

14. Cloud-Based Google Map Styling

• Google Map styling in Flutter 3.16 gains cloud-based support for seamless customization.
• Developers can now apply map styles stored in the cloud, simplifying the styling process.
• This feature enhances flexibility and ease of use in customizing map visuals.

15. macOS Video Player Plugin

• A new video player plugin for macOS is introduced in Flutter 3.16.
• Developers can easily integrate and customize video playback within their macOS applications.
• This addition expands multimedia capabilities for Flutter apps on the macOS platform.
• We can by own by writing the lot of code or we can simply use the package which is video_player 2.8.1 . This package available on pub.dev so you can use if form there.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, Flutter 3.16 brings a myriad of significant updates and features that cater to both improved user experiences and enhanced development capabilities. The decision to default to Material 3 design principles underscores Flutter’s commitment to staying modern and visually cohesive. The additional options in the Edit menu and the updates to the selection area contribute to a more intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• Developers will appreciate the changes in the Focus Manager, offering more granular control and customization options, addressing previous focus-related issues. The automatic reorder menu item for iOS and the matrix transition animation further elevates the responsiveness and dynamism of Flutter applications, enhancing their adaptability and user-friendliness.
• The introduction of the Flutter Game Toolkit opens exciting possibilities for game development, providing specialized tools and components that can significantly streamline the game creation process. The inclusion of the Casual Games Toolkit as a package on pub.dev further facilitates game development, saving developers valuable time.
• Mouse scroll wheel support and predictive back navigation add to the user-centric improvements, offering more natural interaction and smarter navigation flows within applications. The support for iOS app extensions and the introduction of a macOS video player plugin expand Flutter’s capabilities, allowing developers to create more integrated and feature-rich applications across different platforms.
• Furthermore, the cloud-based Google Map styling and the scrolling updates provide developers with more flexibility and control over the visual aspects of their applications, whether it’s customizing map visuals or fine-tuning scrolling behaviour. The engine changes for Android contribute to better performance and stability, reinforcing Flutter’s commitment to providing an optimized experience on the Android platform.
• In summary, Flutter 3.16 is a comprehensive update that not only enhances the overall user experience but also empowers developers with new tools and capabilities. Whether you are a developer looking to create immersive games, improve the navigation flow of your app, or customize map visuals with cloud-based styling, Flutter 3.16 offers a robust set of features to explore and implement in your projects.